Luce and others
Created | Updated Mar 12, 2007
Henry Robinson Luce
Henry Robinson Luce was born in April 1898 in Denghzou China. Much of his younger years were spent being educated in China and in England at boarding schools before he moved to America to continue his studies at the Hotchkiss School and Yale University from which he graduated in 1920.
It was at Hotchkiss school that he met his working companion Briton Hadden who was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper while Luce worked as assistant managing editor. They continued to work together in Yale University where Hadden was chairman and Luce acted as managing editor of the Yale Daily News. On graduating from Yale Luce studied history at Oxford University and on his return worked for the Chicago Daily News. Then in 1921 he was to join forces again with Hadden at the Baltimore News, before they set up TIME magazine together. During 1923 Luce was serving as a business manager and Hadden was editor-in-chief when the first issue of TIME appeared in March of that year. Sadly six years later Hadden died and Luce stepped in to his position as editor-in-chief. Due to the success of TIME Luce brought out several more magazines such as Fortune, Life magazine, House and Home and Sports Illustrated as well as creating The March of Time for radio and cinema. He acted as editor-in-chief for all these magazines until 1964.
Always interested in politics, Luce was an influential member of the Republican Party. He held anti-communist sentiments and was a key figure behind the ‘China Lobby’ and controlling American foreign policy. He also held high regard of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife Soong Mayling. Luce had two children by his first wife named Peter Paul and Henry Luce III and married his second wife Clare Booth Brokaw in 1935. Before his death in Phoenix Arizona.
Russ Colombo
Known for his early death and the signature tune ‘Some Call It Madness, But I call It Love’. Russ Colombo otherwise known as Ruggiero Eugenio Di Rodolpho, Colombo lived from January 14, 1908 to September 1, 1934. Born to Italian Immigrant parents, Colombo was their twelfth child to be born in Camden New Jersey. At the age of thirteen he had learnt to play the violin and debuted professionally before leaving school at seventeen years old and travelling with fellow musicians around the country, appearing in various night clubs. When he turned twenty in 1928 he entered the world of motion pictures but sadly his talent was used to create the illusion that several popular entertainers were actually the talented ones. Russ was eventually given the lime light he deserved, but he soon turned away from motion pictures to chase other dreams. For instance, he tried to run a night club but was unsuccessful. Turning back to music he went in search of his manager, songwriter Con Conrad and travelled with him to New York where they appeared on NBC radio out of which was achieved several engagements and a recording contract with Victor records. Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby’s music were of similar flavour to that of Russ, crooning as it was called caught on to many a fan. Sadly September 1, 1934 saw his life short lived as his so called friend photographer Lansing Brown shot him dead.
Alan Freed
Born December 15, 1922 Alan Freed is internationally remembered for encouraging the appearance of African-American Rhythm and Blues (R & B) music on European and American radio under the name of Rock and Roll.
Father of Rock and Roll
Believing himself to be the father of Rock and Roll and the first to play African-American Rhythm and Blues just like his predecessors, Alan Freed was simply a successful promoter of the music. That is until others copied his legacy in an attempt to forge their careers and led to the extinction of his career.
Racial Integration
During the 1950’s a lot of well known African American performers credited Alan Freed for his work on racial integration with the youths of America, while the adults were at war with one another over colour. One particular medium, which has preserved Freed’s non-racist attitude, is the (historical rock and roll) motion picture where Freed appeared alongside well, known African-American’s of that era. Youngsters at that time greatly welcomed these films because of their visual depictions of their favourite American performers. But these movies also caused some people to transform showings of these films into riots where cinemas were trashed. Freed’s success brought about his own television series which came to an end due to people accusing Freed of being at the pinnacle of what was wrong with recorded music. In his place Dick Clark came to succeed. These films also came overseas to Europe and when Radio Luxembourg heard him he was quickly booked and represented as the father of Rock and Roll. Due to Radio Luxembourg’s signal Liverpool, England was even treated to the sounds of Alan Freed and other African-American’s appearing on air and thus from imitation was born the famous Beatles.
Music
In this way Freed’s music appears to have transcended imaginary barriers between the races in the 1950’s. With 1956 seeing Alan Freed appear in Rock Around the Clock, Rock, Rock, Rock and The Girl Can’t Help It. Alongside favourites such as Jayne Mansfield, Chuck Berry and Bill Haley and His Comets. Then in 1957 Alan Freed appeared in Mr. Rock and Roll and Don’t Knock the Rock alongside famous faces such as Lionel Hampton, Ferlin Husky, Brook Benton, Little Richard and Bill Haley and His comets. Then in 1959 the hit song Go, Johnny Go! Was released with Alan Freed, Jimmy Clanton and Chuck Berry making it famous.
Concert
Alan Freed organised a Rock and Roll concert during his disc jockey career at WJW station in Cleveland, Ohio. This concert was known as ‘The Moondog Coronation Ball’ and took place in the Spring of 1952. Many African –American’s flocked to the event, so many that the event had to be called off due to overcrowding. Due to Freed’s success in Cleveland he made a move to New York City where he transformed WINS into a rock and roll station.
Payola
Sadly during the 1960’s Alan Freed’s career was scrapped due to many people accusing him of taking bribes to play specific records an act otherwise known as payola. Although he was not the only one subjected to these accusations he was singled out and people drew attention to him. Come 1960 payola was made illegal but that hasn’t stopped some practices allegedly continuing to carry out this act in various ways.
Great Depression For Freed
Then in 1962 Alan Freed admitted to two charges of commercial bribery which resulted in him receiving a fine and a suspended sentence. Although the punishments he received were not severe it meant many radio stations would not take him on. So he moved to the West Coast in 1962 where he found the KGF J-AM in Los Angeles and shortly before his death in 1965 he worked for the radio station in Palm Springs, California. Alan Freed died of uraemia and liver cirrhosis, aged 42, in hospital and was laid to rest at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale New York.
In Memory
In memory of Alan Freed a motion picture named American Hot Wax was released in 1978. Telling the story of his life and his significant contribution to the rock and roll scene. Many distinguished celebrities starred in the movie such as Jay Leno and Fran Drescher and even Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis put in cameo appearances. While 1986 saw Alan Freed be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and in 1988 he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
Henry Robinson Luce was born in April 1898 in Denghzou China. Much of his younger years were spent being educated in China and in England at boarding schools before he moved to America to continue his studies at the Hotchkiss School and Yale University from which he graduated in 1920.
It was at Hotchkiss school that he met his working companion Briton Hadden who was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper while Luce worked as assistant managing editor. They continued to work together in Yale University where Hadden was chairman and Luce acted as managing editor of the Yale Daily News. On graduating from Yale Luce studied history at Oxford University and on his return worked for the Chicago Daily News. Then in 1921 he was to join forces again with Hadden at the Baltimore News, before they set up TIME magazine together. During 1923 Luce was serving as a business manager and Hadden was editor-in-chief when the first issue of TIME appeared in March of that year. Sadly six years later Hadden died and Luce stepped in to his position as editor-in-chief. Due to the success of TIME Luce brought out several more magazines such as Fortune, Life magazine, House and Home and Sports Illustrated as well as creating The March of Time for radio and cinema. He acted as editor-in-chief for all these magazines until 1964.
Always interested in politics, Luce was an influential member of the Republican Party. He held anti-communist sentiments and was a key figure behind the ‘China Lobby’ and controlling American foreign policy. He also held high regard of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife Soong Mayling. Luce had two children by his first wife named Peter Paul and Henry Luce III and married his second wife Clare Booth Brokaw in 1935. Before his death in Phoenix Arizona.
Russ Colombo
Known for his early death and the signature tune ‘Some Call It Madness, But I call It Love’. Russ Colombo otherwise known as Ruggiero Eugenio Di Rodolpho, Colombo lived from January 14, 1908 to September 1, 1934. Born to Italian Immigrant parents, Colombo was their twelfth child to be born in Camden New Jersey. At the age of thirteen he had learnt to play the violin and debuted professionally before leaving school at seventeen years old and travelling with fellow musicians around the country, appearing in various night clubs. When he turned twenty in 1928 he entered the world of motion pictures but sadly his talent was used to create the illusion that several popular entertainers were actually the talented ones. Russ was eventually given the lime light he deserved, but he soon turned away from motion pictures to chase other dreams. For instance, he tried to run a night club but was unsuccessful. Turning back to music he went in search of his manager, songwriter Con Conrad and travelled with him to New York where they appeared on NBC radio out of which was achieved several engagements and a recording contract with Victor records. Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby’s music were of similar flavour to that of Russ, crooning as it was called caught on to many a fan. Sadly September 1, 1934 saw his life short lived as his so called friend photographer Lansing Brown shot him dead.
Alan Freed
Born December 15, 1922 Alan Freed is internationally remembered for encouraging the appearance of African-American Rhythm and Blues (R & B) music on European and American radio under the name of Rock and Roll.
Father of Rock and Roll
Believing himself to be the father of Rock and Roll and the first to play African-American Rhythm and Blues just like his predecessors, Alan Freed was simply a successful promoter of the music. That is until others copied his legacy in an attempt to forge their careers and led to the extinction of his career.
Racial Integration
During the 1950’s a lot of well known African American performers credited Alan Freed for his work on racial integration with the youths of America, while the adults were at war with one another over colour. One particular medium, which has preserved Freed’s non-racist attitude, is the (historical rock and roll) motion picture where Freed appeared alongside well, known African-American’s of that era. Youngsters at that time greatly welcomed these films because of their visual depictions of their favourite American performers. But these movies also caused some people to transform showings of these films into riots where cinemas were trashed. Freed’s success brought about his own television series which came to an end due to people accusing Freed of being at the pinnacle of what was wrong with recorded music. In his place Dick Clark came to succeed. These films also came overseas to Europe and when Radio Luxembourg heard him he was quickly booked and represented as the father of Rock and Roll. Due to Radio Luxembourg’s signal Liverpool, England was even treated to the sounds of Alan Freed and other African-American’s appearing on air and thus from imitation was born the famous Beatles.
Music
In this way Freed’s music appears to have transcended imaginary barriers between the races in the 1950’s. With 1956 seeing Alan Freed appear in Rock Around the Clock, Rock, Rock, Rock and The Girl Can’t Help It. Alongside favourites such as Jayne Mansfield, Chuck Berry and Bill Haley and His Comets. Then in 1957 Alan Freed appeared in Mr. Rock and Roll and Don’t Knock the Rock alongside famous faces such as Lionel Hampton, Ferlin Husky, Brook Benton, Little Richard and Bill Haley and His comets. Then in 1959 the hit song Go, Johnny Go! Was released with Alan Freed, Jimmy Clanton and Chuck Berry making it famous.
Concert
Alan Freed organised a Rock and Roll concert during his disc jockey career at WJW station in Cleveland, Ohio. This concert was known as ‘The Moondog Coronation Ball’ and took place in the Spring of 1952. Many African –American’s flocked to the event, so many that the event had to be called off due to overcrowding. Due to Freed’s success in Cleveland he made a move to New York City where he transformed WINS into a rock and roll station.
Payola
Sadly during the 1960’s Alan Freed’s career was scrapped due to many people accusing him of taking bribes to play specific records an act otherwise known as payola. Although he was not the only one subjected to these accusations he was singled out and people drew attention to him. Come 1960 payola was made illegal but that hasn’t stopped some practices allegedly continuing to carry out this act in various ways.
Great Depression For Freed
Then in 1962 Alan Freed admitted to two charges of commercial bribery which resulted in him receiving a fine and a suspended sentence. Although the punishments he received were not severe it meant many radio stations would not take him on. So he moved to the West Coast in 1962 where he found the KGF J-AM in Los Angeles and shortly before his death in 1965 he worked for the radio station in Palm Springs, California. Alan Freed died of uraemia and liver cirrhosis, aged 42, in hospital and was laid to rest at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale New York.
In Memory
In memory of Alan Freed a motion picture named American Hot Wax was released in 1978. Telling the story of his life and his significant contribution to the rock and roll scene. Many distinguished celebrities starred in the movie such as Jay Leno and Fran Drescher and even Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis put in cameo appearances. While 1986 saw Alan Freed be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland and in 1988 he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
