The story behind this year’s block party theme:
Disk jockey Alan Freed is widely credited with coining the term “rock and roll” to describe the up-tempo black R&B records he played as early as 1951 on Cleveland radio station WJW. Freed called himself “the Moondog” and billed his show as the “Moondog Rock ‘n’ Roll Party.” A tireless and enthusiastic advocate of the music he played, Freed kept time to his favorite records by beating his hands on a phone book. He called it rock and roll because “it seemed to suggest the rolling, surging beat of the music.” The Freed-sponsored 1952 Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland is cited by Rock historians and journalists as the nation’s first rock and roll concert.
At this year’s Block Party we will be honoring his son, Lance Freed, President of Rondor Music Publishing (a division of Universal Music Publishing Group) and pay a special tribute in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Birth of Rock & Roll
and the legacy of his late father.
The event will feature musical entertainment and dancing from four different stages featuring Tom Nolan Band, The Wonderelles, and DJ Dwayne Brown; casino style gaming; interactive activities; live and silent auction; and samplings from restaurant, beverage and dessert vendors including:
Restaurants | Beverages Desserts Participants listed as of print deadline |
Visit Los Angeles magazine’s Best of LA® 2012 street for
- Casino style gaming and cocktails sponsored by TANQUERAY®
- The 2013 XTS Experience presented by Cadillac
- Tasty snacks compliments of Clif and Luna Bar
- Fitness and lifestyle with Equinox
- Live music from House Fire
Saturday, July 14
6:00pm
Paramount Studios
For ticket information, please visit www.concernfoundation.org or call 310-360-6100
Ticket price: $350
