Every July, National Day of Rock ‘n’ Roll celebrates the music that has inspired generations. Like many forms of art, our musical tastes often extend beyond a mere interest and become a core part of our identity. The same can most certainly be said for cities with deep musical roots. Local music scenes have long been cultural architects, particularly before the streaming era.
Through the rise of Motown, the mainstream use of “rock and roll,” and the many musicians who put the Rust Belt on the map, the Midwest has helped shape the soundtrack of America for decades. Let’s take a look at the iconic artists, landmarks, and moments that built our area’s legacy.
THE RISE OF ROCK
Radio DJ, Alan Freed, grew up in Salem, Ohio and attended Ohio State University. His radio career began while serving in the Army during World War II. He was a massively influential figure in rock and roll, even helping to redefine and popularize the term. Despite living through segregation, Freed played music by Black artists and organized concerts with racially mixed crowds. Freed and local concert promoter, Lew Platt, held the Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland in 1952. This event is generally considered the first major rock and roll concert. Freed’s legacy is built upon instilling more tolerant views of integration in the 1950s, especially among teenagers. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
THE BIRTH OF MOTOWN
Motown, a clever combination of motor and town, was founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit during the late-50s. In 1960, Motown Record Corporation was incorporated and went on to produce industry icons such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Four Tops, Lionel Richie & the Commodores, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Jackson 5. “The Motown Sound” became very popular with both Black and white audiences. It’s clear to see that music has always been a unifying bridge.
RECOGNIZING THE GREATS
Ahmet Ertegun, the founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, formed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in 1983. Among the contenders for the venue’s home were Philadelphia, Memphis, Detroit, New York and Cincinnati. The committee chose Cleveland in 1986, the same year it began inducting artists. Cleveland had pledged $65 million in funding for the construction and cited the city’s influence on the genre, including Alan Freed and David Bowie, whose first US tour began in Cleveland. The building broke ground in 1993 with a ceremony attended by Pete Townshend, Check Berry, and Billy Joel. In 1995, a star-studded lineup returned for the museum’s ribbon cutting and ceremonial concert.
WHERE LEGENDS ARE BORN
Many famous artists hail from the Buckeye and Great Lakes States. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does go to show that the Midwest has had an impressive musical impact!
- Al Jardine, co-founder of the Beach Boys | Born in Lima, OH
- Alice Cooper | Born in Detroit, MI
- Bill Haley | Born in Highland Park, MI
- Bob Seger | Born in Detroit, MI
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Formed in Cleveland, OH
- David Grohl | Born in Warren, OH
- Dean Martin | Born in Steubenville, OH
- Doris Day | Born in Cincinnati, OH
- Eminem | From Detroit, MI
- Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus, Rascal Flatts | From Columbus, OH
- Gilby Clarke and Steven Adler, Guns N’ Roses | Born in Cleveland, OH
- Glen Buxton, Alice Cooper | Born in Akron, OH
- Grand Funk Railroad | Formed in Flint, MI
- Iggy Pop | Born in Muskegon, MI
- Jack White | Born in Detroit, MI
- John Legend | Born in Springfield, OH
- Madonna | Born in Bay City, MI
- Meg White | Born in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
- Nine Inch Nails | Formed in Cleveland, OH
- Scott Shriner, Weezer | Born in Toledo, OH
- Stevie Wonder | Born in Saginaw, MI
- Sufjan Stevens | Born in Detroit, MI
- The Black Keys | Formed in Akron, OH
- The Supremes | Formed in Detroit, MI
- Tracy Chapman | Born in Cleveland, OH
- Twenty One Pilots | Formed in Columbus, OH
From showstopping moments to timeless anthems, our region’s influence extends far beyond state lines. There’s no better time to celebrate the legacies built in our own backyard. Happy National Day of Rock ‘n’ Roll!