Reference Number
ARC-0166
Level of description
collection
Title
Big Beat Heat Collection
Date
circa 1920s-1995
Size
2.5 (Linear feet)
Scope and Contents
The Big Beat Heat Collection spans the 1920s to 1995 and includes some undated materials. The collection contains mostly photocopied research materials, a few photos, and different drafts of Jackson's first book, Big Beat Heat: Alan Freed and the Early Years of Rock & Roll. The book Big Beat Heat documents Alan Freed's life and his introduction and dissemination of rock and roll to the masses through radio and television, as well as the payola scandals of the late 1950s that exposed the links between radio airplay, record promotion, and the mob. The majority of the collection materials relate to media coverage of Freed's career and his early involvement in rock and roll promotion and entertainment. A few recordings of his broadcasts on various radio networks are included on audiocassette. The collection also contains a transcript of Freed's testimony to the U.S. House Payola Subcommittee that was restricted from public view until Jackson's request for his book research. There is no personal information on Jackson in this collection, so these materials will be of most use to researchers interested in Alan Freed, the early days of rock and roll promotion, and popular music radio broadcasting. This collection was formally known as the John A. Jackson Papers.
Timeline
1988: Original unedited draft of <title render="italic">Big Beat Heat: Alan Freed and the Early Years of Rock & Roll </title>submitted to the publisher.
1991: Book published.
1992: First prize winner of the 1991 Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Awards.
1992: Winner of 1992 Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Award for Excellence in the Field of Recorded Rock, Rhythm and Blues or Soul: Best History.
Notes
Language Note: English
Citation: [Identification of Item], Big Beat Heat Collection, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Processing Information: Processed by Lee Wittenstein, Intern. Completed October 10, 2011. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.
Acquisition Note: The Big Beat Heat Collection was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. as a gift from John A. Jackson on October 21, 1996.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives staff in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects
Creator