Many pre-baby boomers may know the late Alan Freed as the man who helped usher in the era of rock 'n' roll. What many of them may not know is that the flamboyant disc jockey came from humble beginnings in northern Somerset County. On Saturday, residents from Freed's hometown of Windber and others will gather at noon to dedicate a state marker and Hollywood-style bronze star in his honor. The effort to memorialize Freed in the town where he spent his pre-teen years was spearheaded by residents Bob Spinelli, his wife, Cathy, and Blair Murphy. The Spinellis spent months researching Freed's past before they felt they had enough to document Freed's ties to Windber and make the case that Freed was prominent enough to have a state marker issued in his name. "We didn't really know, but we felt it was worth a try," said Bob Spinelli, a self-professed rock 'n' roll lover. "We figured it couldn't hurt." While the Spinellis were appealing to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for a marker, Murphy was hard at work trying to get placed within the borough a bronze star similar to those set in concrete for Hollywood notables. Murphy, a filmmaker from California who had only recently moved to Windber, knew of Freed but was unaware of his connection to the town. He met the Spinellis after hearing that the couple was also trying to do something to remember Freed. "It just seemed funny that different people from the same town were trying to do something at the same time," said Murphy. "I guess it was just a coincidence." After meeting, the Spinellis and Murphy decided to continue with their individual pursuits while also exploring ways to work together. Several months ago, the Spinellis were notified by the historical commission that their request for a marker for Freed had been approved. Meanwhile, Murphy was having a bronze star cast for Freed and appealing to Windber officials to allow it to be placed in a public place within the borough. Town leaders unanimously approved the request. The two memorials will be placed side by side in Miners Park in downtown Windber. Freed was born in Windber in the early 1920s and lived there until about age 12, when the family moved to eastern Ohio, according to biographers. Freed is credited by many music experts with inventing the term "rock 'n' roll" while a disc jockey in Cleveland in the early 1950s. According to historians, Freed began to use the term to refer to a style of music known as rhythm and blues, which at the time was mostly popular among blacks. Freed, who went by the professional name of "Moondog," is credited with using the phrase to promote broader acceptance for the music. Freed eventually moved to New York City, where he continued to enjoy success in the music business. At the height of his fame, Freed also produced stage shows and appeared in several theme films, including "Rock Around the Clock," "Mr. Rock and Roll" and "Don't Knock the Rock." His career began to spiral downward in the early 1960s when he pleaded guilty to bribery for playing or promoting certain records in exchange for cash and other perks. He faced further professional and financial ruin when he was later charged with income-tax evasion. He died in his mid-40s in January 1965. At the time of his death, he was reportedly a penniless, broken man. The 1978 movie "American Hot Wax" was based loosely on Freed's music career. In 1986, he was among the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Freed is not the first famous person who lived in Windber to be memorialized. A state marker also stands for Johnny Weissmuller, a former Olympic swimming champion from the 1920s who went on to further fame starring in "Tarzan" and "Jungle Jim" movies. Originally from Eastern Europe, Weissmuller lived in Windber for a time with his family as a youth. The family eventually moved to Chicago. Weissmuller died in 1984 at age 80. Spinelli said some of Freed's relatives as well as various music aficionados have been invited to attend Saturday's dedication.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---