The first Moondog Coronation Ball was started by Cleveland DJ Alan Freed in 1952. Freed organized a concert at the old Cleveland Arena led by that year's biggest names in music. The concert lasted only a few minutes when police shut down the event for fear of rioting. An estimated 20,000 fans tried to enter a venue with half of that capacity.
Fast forward 60 years and the event is still going strong, but in a much bigger venue.
Once again, Quicken Loans Arena will host this year's concert. The music acts include two Hall of Fame acts, an original Monkee and one of most famous party bands of all time.
Moondog 2012 will feature Creedence Clearwater Revisited, KC and The Sunshine Band, Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees and Sam Moore of "Sam & Dave". The concert takes place on Saturday, March 31st at 7:00pm at the Q.
Tickets start at $37.50 and go on sale Friday, February 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at the Quicken Loans Arena Box Office, charge by phone at 888-894-9424, online at theQarena.com and at all northern Ohio Discount Drug Marts.
“The Moondog Coronation Ball is widely acknowledged as the world’s first rock concert,” said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “Alan Freed started a movement, fired the shot heard round the world and changed the course of history. Sixty years later, wherever you go, people still understand that Cleveland Rocks.”
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
For many rock purists, Creedence Clearwater REVIVAL is John Fogerty who sang and wrote nearly ever song from 1967 to 1972. But, co-founding members Stu Cook (bass) and Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (drums) and their band Creedence Clearwater Revisited has taken on a startling life of its own since forming in 1995. Stu and Cosmo along with lead singer/rhythm guitar player John Tristao lead guitarist Kurt Griffey and multi-instrumentalist Steve Gunner have kept the CCR songs alive to positive reviews. Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Fogerty, Cook and Clifford accepted their awards but did not perform together. CCR chartered 12 Top 40 hits.
KC and The Sunshine Band
Harry Wayne Casey, better known as the founder and leader of KC and The Sunshine Band, created his “Sunshine Sound” a mix of Pop, Reggae and Latin back in 1973. His music originated with humble beginnings in Hialeah, Florida and KC has never moved farther than 10 miles away. KC & The Sunshine Band became the first act to score four #1 pop singles in one 12-month period since the Beatles in 1964. In all, these Grammy-Award winners have sold in excess of 100 million records, have been featured on more than 200 motion picture film soundtracks and scored 11 Top 40 hits.
Micky Dolenz
Micky Dolenz auditioned for “The Monkees” TV series in 1965, and on the strength of his audition won a role and became the group’s designated crazy one. Assigned as a drummer, Micky worked to learn the instrument well enough to bluff his way through filming. With the eventual break-up of The Monkees, he found work in cartoon voice-over roles and touring with former Monkee Davy Jones. The Monkees enjoyed 12 Top 40 hits and 3 number one singles.
Sam Moore
For years Sam Moore was best known for his work with the historic soul duo Sam & Dave, 1992 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The rapid-fire style, built on the call and response of gospel, was fashioned and pioneered by Sam and became the trademark of the duo. Songs like “Hold On I’m Coming,” “I Thank You,” ‘When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” and his monster hit “Soul Man”. Sam & Dave sold more than 10 million records worldwide. The music and sound of Sam & Dave became so popular that the duo served as the inspiration for The Blues Brothers parody by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Though he has tremendous love and respect for the music he created as “the voice” of the duo, Sam, who has been called “the blast furnace of soul,” has maintained his appeal and his stardom as a solo artist and continues to tour scoring critical acclaim for his work.
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