1952: What many consider the very first rock & roll concert took place on this day in Cleveland. Legendary DJ Alan Freed stages his Moondog Coronation Ball at the Cleveland Auditorium. Billy Ward and the Dominoes, Tiny Grimes, and Paul Williams and the Hucklebuckers are the featured attractions.
The event draws 20,000 fans to a 10,000 seat venue causing police to shut down the show early. That touches off the first rock concert near-riot as well.