The Newcomers Guide to Cleveland Music History

It has been about four years since our last published writing, and a ton has happened since then. The agency attached to the Virtuosity brand is no longer a thing. It was not sturdy enough to withstand the damage of the Covid 19 shutdown, but all is not lost.

We moved to Cleveland Ohio, the official birthplace of Rock n Roll and the tangible home of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, and landed a sweet gig at WCSB 89.3 FM. Every first Thursday we have an ADHD and coffee-fueled two-hour segment to do as we please, and it’s been entertaining learning the vintage art of transmission while still using digital media and streaming. The cast of characters we share the airwaves with is extremely hodgepodge and ranges from Hungarian to Metal to R&B to Derek Hess (mentioned later in further detail) and serves to provide an alternative to pop radio. You truly never know what you will hear tuning into 89.3.

I was never sure why I picked Cleveland, Ohio when I decided I needed a change and moved from Memphis after being there my entire life. We have a business connection here that we had worked remotely for, but I could have continued that work from anywhere. Something drew me here, and since we stepped foot out of the vehicles in our driveway, we have felt this is home.

Since this is our new home, the kids and I have crammed Ohio history. In our past attempt to prep for working in the music industry here, Gillian and I brushed up on the history of music in Cleveland. I had been braced by someone about the title of ‘Birthplace of Rock n Roll’ being deeply rooted in Cleveland’s history, while under the perspective of being a lifelong Memphian, who also claims the title.

I stand corrected, although I will say that while Alan Freed is the “father” for attributing the name Rock n Roll, which is a phrase stemming from Blues music as far back as 1922, and is slang for dancing or sex, and that Dewey Phillips of WHBQ-Memphis was the co-parent. He, after all, pushed the Beale Street Blues into the ears of white youth in the South, which for those familiar with history, could have been dangerous and even deadly. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is right where it should be, and the Blues Hall of Fame, in Memphis is as well.

Aside from that, I learned so much more. The city of Cleveland is an art and culture springboard. Learning that fact, I quickly realized why I was so attracted to it. New V Music started as a medium for us to share up-and-coming artists, and Cleveland is one of the most prolific cities responsible for breaking so many artists and genres.

Dating back to as early as the late 20th century, before Cleveland was even a state, it was responsible for bringing the music of the world to the U.S. The Euclid Opera House opened in the middle of the historic Theater District in 1975 for a cost of $200,000 which would be $5,028.890.91 today. It touted modern electricity and housed the Ellsler Stock Company and Drama School launched the careers of some of the best-known actors of the day.

After changing management several times, it burned down in 1893 and was rebuilt and reopened within a year. It was in business for 30 more years, before the last curtain call on April 2, 1922, and would become the Corner Alley Bowling Center that remains to this day a staple of the entertainment district.

The Cleveland Orchestra home, in Severance Hall was built between 1929 and 1931 thanks to a Western Reserve Society land grant, and donations reaching as much as $7 million. Named for its largest benefactor, John D. Severance, who dedicated it to his wife, Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ DeWitt Severance. She passed shortly after the building began, and Severance became the largest donor, more than likely to honor his late wife through its majesty and endurance. The Hall included a radio station which led to national recognition of the Cleveland Orchestra. The Cleveland Orchestra is still today one of the most recognized in the world, and in 1997 the beautiful Severance Hall was restored and updated.

Cleveland is home to the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame. The large Slovenian population dates to the late 19th /early 20th centuries which made Polka popular in Cleveland following WWII. Cleveland-style polka bands would travel across the country and tour radio circuits playing a modernized version of Old World, Slovene language music with English Lyrics bringing Polka commercial success and eventually appealing to all kinds of Americans. The National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame is a museum that pays homage to the genre with an educational timeline of Cleveland-style polka, highlighting the stars and achievements of the community.

During the Great Depression, George Meyers (and family) moved their modest dance hall into a larger location. While the country was recovering from the largest economic disaster in the history of the U.S., people would frequent dance halls to take their minds off the state of things. The Meyers family’s decision to expand their dance hall was met with success as the 200 max seating dance hall regularly saw 1200 patrons on a weekend night. George and his son built the dance floor by hand after taking ownership of the former skating rink following a fire, and through their craftsmanship, a subfloor and mahogany wood top floor strategically placed, they built the bounciest floor in town.

Tragedy struck in October of 1933 as George was struck by a car and died, but his son, Lloyd took the helm. It’s said that his future wife, Madalene, convinced him to change the name from Shadyside Gardens to Aragon Dance Hall, and it was the best decision he could have made. Aragon would bring the stars of Big Band in such as Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and even Lawrence Welk, who attributed Aragon for his later success on T V. Perry Como and Dean Martin among others, got their big break at the Aragon and launched their wildly successful careers from time on the Aragon stage. The Aragon went on for 50 years, outliving Lloyd for five years before his wife and daughter closed its doors in 1989.

During the late 50’s and early 60’s, Jap Gleason’s ‘Gleason Musical Bar’ was referred to as the ‘Harlem of Ohio’ from the way black artists were being catapulted to success after playing. One of the clubs on the Chitlin Circuit that allowed southern blues musicians a safe harbor from Jim Crow laws and a place to perform, Gleason’s was an integral part in the making of the Rock and Roll birthplace. Gleason’s was one of the first and only interracial venues of the time, and Alan Freed was a regular. The establishment employed James Brown and Tiny Grimes at one point and is thought to have set the standard for music venues in Cleveland. While small and only seating around 100 people, Gleason regularly engaged with customers and made them feel so welcome, that they would not leave after the shows. The Gleason Music Bar was eventually closed in 1962 after the musicians he hosted became mainstream artists and he could no longer compete with larger venues for the big acts. Gleason passed away in 1996.

The Jazz scene in Cleveland was bustling in the 1960s in what was known as the Mayfield Triangle, in a little spot called the Jazz Temple. Situated in the area known as Uptown Cleveland, The Jazz Temple was a huge draw for college students attending the nearby Western Reserve University. The proprietor, a young African American businessman and fan of Jazz, Winston Willis, opened its doors to immediate success in 1962, the coffee house (no liquor establishment) attracted jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Gloria Lynn, and even headlined comedians like Redd Fox and Richard Pryor. Unfortunately, there were racial tensions from the young inter-racial couples that frequented and a nearby neighborhood’s inhabitants targeted The Jazz Temple with threats and violence. Many of the famous acts refused to be intimidated but eventually one of the threats ended in a bombing in 1964. There were no injuries or deaths, as it was after hours, and the local police allegedly found no suspects but were able to locate the bomb. Mr. Willis decided to not rebuild.

Leo Frank and Jules Berger opened a lounge-style casino in the Quad Hall Hotel, called Leo’s Casino. The Casino hosted so many legendary acts like The Supremes, The Temptations, John Coltrane, Ray Charles, and Marvin Gaye. A tragic tale of Leo’s is that Otis Redding and the Barkays played Leo’s Casino on December 9, 1967, one day before he and Carl Cunningham, Ronnie Caldwell, Ben Cauley, and Phalan Jones crashed into Lake Monona on their way to Madison, Wisconsin for a show. James Alexander and Carl Sims took commercial flights since there was not enough room on the small plane. The Hough Riots were a few blocks away which would eventually lead to its closing, but The Supremes played a sold-out show to a mixed audience only weeks after they took place. East Cleveland would suffer a decline, and Leo’s closed its doors in 1972. Although the building was torn down, there is a marker designating it a Historical Landmark, rightfully so.

The famous Euclid Tavern has one of the most storied and epic histories. It was a University Circle bar that featured an open mic night on Mondays in the 80’s run by one of their kitchen staff, Jerry Suhar. He became the act most nights, but with his background and education in music, he did well. So well, that his run went on from 1980-1990, when another kitchen staff, Derek Hess, would take the reins. Derek began booking local and traveling bands, and the Euc developed a reputation among touring bands as a place to play that would treat them fairly and decently. Bands like Pavement, Green Day, and Queens of the Stone Age played the Euc before they became alt-rock stars. Hess, who designed show posters, was so talented he has some in the Louvre and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on display. The Euclid Lounge was featured on “Light of Day” with Michael J Fox and Joan Jett and the neon sign the owners received for allowing it to be filmed still hangs to this day. The Euc closed its doors in 2001, 4 years after the original owners, Bob Jost and Paul DeVito sold it.

The 10,000-seat Cleveland Public Hall, built in 1922 seals its place in Cleveland Music History for the acts hosted in 1964-1972. The Beatles' infamous show at Public Hall was almost disastrous, from the proximity of the band to the fans. The small stage along with folding chairs meant young, female fanatics were trying to get higher to see them and crushing their ankles. Chaos ensued which led to the mayor banning any major acts to be booked in the future. The ban was eventually lifted. It has hosted the Rolling Stones, Jim Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Crosby Stills and Nash, and David Bowie who deliberately began his tour in Cleveland as he launched his Ziggy Stardust persona. The ability for Cleveland radio to break new music was responsible, in that Cleveland listeners were listening more than any other city thanks to WMMS and its programming. The Public Hall still functions today.