The Birth of Rock & Roll in Cleveland(and those who brought it into the world)

In this series, Contributing Writer Ralph Horner details discovering Rock & Roll music as a Cleveland teenager in the 1950's.

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The birth of Rock & Roll: From 1950s doo-wop, a new sound in 1970s California rock emerges
After discovering his love for rhythm & blues in the early 50s, Ralph Horner reflects on the transition into doo-wop later in a the decade, and eventually into the Rock & Roll sounds emerging out of California in the 1960s and 70s.
The birth of Rock & Roll: Teenage music gods of the 1950s that nobody ever heard of
Ralph Horner recalls an up close and personal encounter with Big Jay McNeely's saxophone when McNeely played an Ohio City bar in the 1950s, as well as other rock legends of the era who simply faded into memories.
The birth of Rock & Roll: Heckling Frankie Avalon at a dance
While hanging around at a church dance in Euclid one night, Ralph Horner recalls the unsavory reaction he and his friends displayed toward icon Frankie Avalon when the star stopped in.
The birth of Rock & Roll: DJ Bill Randle and Elvis’ CLE debut
Ralph Horner recalls listening to Walkin’ and Talkin’ Bill Hawkins on WJMO radio, discovering his love of Elvis Presley, and the Rock & Roll music scene in Cleveland in the 1950s.
The Birth of Rock & Roll: Discovering Bill Haley & His Comets
In this first installment of Ralph Horner's newest column, Birth of Rock & Roll (and those who brought it into the world), Horner waxes nostalgic on his discovery of Bill Haley and His Comets when he was a teenagers in he 1950s.
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