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The FAQs of Life
Who are you guys?
Rock & Roll 50TH Anniversary®
, Inc.
is the official clearinghouse for rock and roll's 50th anniversary!
Why are you doing this?
We're vendor neutral, we're fans, we didn't want to see
this celebration owned by one of the big media houses with
an interest in keeping others out. We want to make sure
this party is inclusive, not exclusive!
We're experienced
at making things happen. For example, one of our principles
is credited with helping to start the internet explosion
by launching the first public internet dial-ups on the planet,
The World.
And, most of all, we want backstage passes!
What exactly do you do?
We have exhaustively researched the early days of rock and roll
and have announced official year-long celebration dates based on that
research.
We are developing a schedule of events and actively coordinating among
key partners in that process in the form of sponsorships and other
relationships.
As part of those sponsorships we work with
our partners to ensure that the value of this
sponsorship is maximized, both for sponsors and the fans of
rock and roll.
We are also planning an awards celebration to honor
those who contributed to rock and roll.
We will serve as the central hub of contact and coordinate participation
in the celebration.
When exactly is the 50th Anniversary of Rock and Roll?
We have selected July 5 2004 - July 5 2005 as the official dates
for the celebration. For details on why these dates were chosen
see "When".
Weren't there rock and roll songs before July 5, 1954? I thought
there were songs all the way back to the 20's and 30's that were
rock and roll?
We are not celebrating the anniversary of the very first rock and
roll record or use of the term "rock and roll" for several reasons:
1) There is no common agreement on what that record was.
As to when the term was first used, in a modern context a lot of credit has
to be given to Alan Freed who used the phrase "rock and roll" in his
radio and concert hall shows in the early 50's. But then again I
have right here a recording of "Rock & Roll" by the Boswell Sisters
recorded almost 20 years earlier, in 1934.
2) It is not clear that any one single record or use of
the term "rock and roll" can be
labeled as the first.
So we've instead used what we believe to be the anniversary
of the emergence of rock and roll as a cultural form in the
public's mind which seems to have happened around 1954-1955.
What events are planned?
Nothing specific to announce yet but musical events, a
Rock & Roll 50TH Anniversary®
awards ceremony, the release of
a special collection of songs from the first 50 years of rock and
roll, and anything we can get backstage passes for.
Your mission statement indicates a philanthropic component? Who
is this charity going to?
We are looking at a large number of worthwhile recipients,
we have absolutely no pre-conceived benefactors.
Our selection will be made in conjunction with our partners (hey,
they're putting up a lot of the do-re-mi) and
input from the public (keep those letters and postcards coming in!)
Want to suggest a recipient? Mail us!
Personally, I like anything that helps kids, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame®,
maybe something to lighten things up for our troops overseas (bring
'em some rock and roll!), but it's
not up to me, I'm only the mysterious voice writing this FAQ and there
are a lot of great organizations out there doing great things.
Are you a non-profit organization?
No way! We are not organized as a non-profit, we are not
a charity! Rock and roll is not a charity! We can all pool together
to help some legitimate charities out there to help make this
effort worthwhile and something we can all feel good about but
let's be serious, this is rock and roll!
Who should I contact if I want to get involved?
For sponsorship inquiries:
sponsorship@rockandroll50th.com
For partnership, licensing and other business related opportunities:
business_development@rockandroll50th.com
All other inquiries may go to:
etarabour@rockandroll50th.com
(Executive Director)
Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame® is a registered trademark of Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame Foundation Inc.
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