This is the story loosely based on Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who introduced rock'n'roll to teenage American radio audiences in the 1950s. Freed was a source of great controversy: criticized by conservatives for corrupting youth with the "devil's music"; hated by racists for promoting African American music for white consumption; persecuted by law enforcement officials and finally brought down by the "payola" scandals.
Top Cast
TI
Tim McIntireAlan Freed
FR
Fran DrescherSheryl
JA
Jay LenoMookie
LA
Laraine NewmanTeenage Louise
CA
Carl WeaverMember of The Chesterfields
AL
Al ChalkMember of The Chesterfields
SA
Sam HarknessMember of The Chesterfields
AR
Arnold McCullerMember of The Chesterfields
JE
Jeff AltmanLennie Richfield
MO
Moosie DrierArtie Moress
JO
John LehneD.A. Coleman
ST
Stewart SteinbergStone
JA
Jack Edward EllisPhillips
RI
Richard ForbesDonahue
ST
Stephen PearlmanPeter Overmyer
KE
Keene CurtisMr. Leonard
PA
Pat McNamaraGordie
WI
Will ThornburySid
HA
Hamilton CampLouie Morgan
CH
Chuck BerrySelf
JE
Jerry Lee LewisSelf
SC
Screamin' Jay HawkinsSelf
CH
Charles GreeneChuck Otis
KE
Kenny VanceProf. La Plano
JO
Joe EspositoMember of The Planotones
BR
Bruce SudanoMember of The Planotones
ED
Eddie HokensonMember of The Planotones
ST
Stephanie SpruillMember of The Delights
JO
Joyce KingMember of The Delights
YO
Yolande HowardMember of The Delights
BR
Brenda RussellMember of The Delights
MA
Marion PerkinsArtie's Mom
MA
Matthew TobinArtie's Dad
BO
Bobby JohnsonTap Dancer
HA
Harold 'Red' KellerStage Manager
EL
Elmer ValentineUnion Man
CH
Charles IrwinMember of Timmy and The Tangerines
JE
Jeanne SheffieldMember of Timmy and The Tangerines