Alan Freed

Disc jockey Alan Freed was born 100 years ago, December 15, 1921. While he was a DJ in Cleveland, OH, he highlighted R&B by black artists and encouraged white and black kids to listen to the same music. He popularized the phrase "rock and roll" to describe music that he featured. His promotion of five acts at the Cleveland Arena in 1952 is considered the first rock concert. He died when he was only 43, so he didn't see his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.