Cleveland? Rock Hall?

As friday swings into full action and the city swells with excitement over this weekends inductions, many of us will be reflecting on how music has impacted our life.

So, I was thinking... Why is the Rock Hall in Cleveland to begin with? How did it come about? Why would Cleveland be the place to celebrate rock ‘n roll? After a quick trip around the web here is the story....

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was created April 20, 1983. However, it had no home. The search committee considered several cities, including Memphis, Cincinnati, New York, and Cleveland. Cleveland lobbied hard to be chosen, citing that Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed is widely credited with promoting the new genre (and the term) of "rock and roll", and that Cleveland was the location of the first rock and roll concert. Civic leaders in Cleveland pledged $65 million in public money to fund the construction. A petition drive was signed by 600,000 fans favoring Cleveland over Memphis, and a USA Today poll which Cleveland won by 100,000 votes. The hall of fame board voted to build the museum in Cleveland.

Never been downtown to check out the museum? This Saturday is FREE Day at the party palace, sponsored by medical mutual. Not only will the museum be decked for the weekend guests and celebrations there will also be live performances throughout the day including Pale Hollow / Rock Your Way To Cleveland YouTube contest winner (1-1:45), Decade / Plain Dealer Cleveland Rocks 09 winner (2-2:45) and Consumer Republic / 2008 Fortune Battle of the Bands winner (3-3:45)

For a full listing of the weekend events visit www.rockhall.com/induction2009/events