CLEVELAND, OH – A new book collects stories about Cleveland’s rock and roll heyday, from the late 1950s through the early 1980s, as told by local veterans of the music scene.

For Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories ($19.95 / paperback / 136 pages / 203 photos), author Carlo Wolff interviewed dozens of musicians, radio DJs, concert promoters, record store owners, nightclub employees, and ordinary fans. He asked them to recall their favorite moments from the era when rock and roll culture was most vibrant in Northeast Ohio.

Their stories revisit some of the biggest concerts held in Cleveland, including the two Beatles concerts, the colossal World Series of Rock concerts, and the free Coffee Break Concerts at the Agora. They recall hit making radio stations like WIXY 1260 and the early WMMS, and trendsetting retailers like Music Grotto and Melody Lane. And they talk about favorite local acts, from the James Gang and the Raspberries to Devo and the Dead Boys.

Some stories include history that many fans might not know. While it’s no mystery that the original Agora nightclub on East 24th Street helped break big acts like Springsteen and Meat Loaf, a lesser known club, La Cave (on Euclid Avenue in a spot now occupied by the Cleveland Clinic), hosted some of the most exciting shows of the sixties, from folk musicians like Tim Buckley to rockers like Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground (who eventually recorded live material in the club).

Many of the big names in Cleveland rock and roll contributed stories for the book, including musicians Michael Stanley, Eric Carmen, and Jim Fox (of the James Gang), promoters Mike and Jules Belkin, and Agora owner Hank LoConti. But ordinary fans had their say, too. Some recall their days of rowdy behavior during concerts at the old Municipal Stadium. Others reminisce about taking the Rapid downtown to ogle Beatle boots at Higbee’s or pick up the latest 45 at Record Rendezvous on Prospect Avenue.

In addition to the stories, Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories includes lists of local rock and roll facts and gathers old photos, concert tickets, show posters, patches and stickers, and vintage newspaper ads.

In all, 114 people contributed stories and memorabilia for the book.

About the Author

Carlo Wolff writes for numerous publications including Goldmine, Billboard.com, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Sun Newspapers and Scene. He specializes in music criticism, book reviews, and feature articles about popular culture, travel, and business. He is also Features Editor of LH-Lodging Hospitality magazine. He lives in South Euclid, Ohio.

Price and Availability

Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories ($19.95 / paperback / 136 pages) is available at Northeast Ohio bookstores and online from Amazon.com. For more information, call Gray & Company, Publishers at 1-800-915-3609 or visit www.grayco.com.