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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Submitted by Sally Doran, July 18, 2011

It’s a testimony to the longevity of a career in rock music when artists can reinvent themselves to appeal to each new generation. Elvis transformed from hip-swiveling rebel to flashy Vegas headliner. Cher and Madonna have changed their images as seamlessly as their costumes. And Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler has transitioned from outrageous bad boy to the “nice” judge on American Idol.

Same goes for Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, a AAA GEM attraction, known informally as the Rock Hall. For 15 years, the shining pyramid-shaped building on the shores of Lake Erie has drawn visitor with exhibits that tell the history of the genre, continually adding new artifacts, fresh stories and fascinating films and exhibits to chronicle another facet or outstanding artist. Next year visitors will find new interactive kiosks, listening stations and oversize images of legendary inductees — the results of a $35 million investment in technology upgrades and improvements to present the history more chronologically.

Exhibit: Women Who Rock - In the meantime, through Feb. 26, 2012, Mary Wilson of the Supremes dress - copyright Rock Hall

Mary Wilson of the Supremes dress - copyright Rock Hall

nothing says reinvent like the current feature exhibit, Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power. The exhibit profiles the contributions of influential women in the male-dominated rock music industry. Span the decades from 1930s and ‘40s blues singers like Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith to ‘60s girl groups like the Supremes and the Ronettes to ‘70s liberated rock women like Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar to today’s latest pop diva, Lady Gaga.

In addition to photos, costumes, film clips, mementos and booming music, take in a live exhibit through the windows of the Alan Freed Radio Studio on the fifth floor, where SiriusXM Radio broadcasts from the Rock Hall. For a taste of the best music from rock’s vinyl era, catch a program with Dusty Street, one of the first women DJs on the radio airwaves.

Interview: Dusty Street - When asked if she relates to the women featured in the exhibit, Dusty replies, “Oh yeah, there’s some absolutely stunning women out there! I grew up loving the girl groups and great blues singers like Odetta (pictured in the museum), so I never thought women were taking a back seat in music anyway.”

In 1969, breaking ground at the legendary underground radio station KSAN in San Francisco, Dusty was in the company of Janis Joplin and Grace Slick who were also finding fame in the Bay area. Joplin’s Porsche painted with a wild psychedelic design is among the Rock Hall’s coolest artifacts.

In the ‘70s, Dusty ushered in punk and new wave music on L.A.’s famous KROQ, playing new music from up-and-coming bands like The Talking Heads and Blondie, now considered classic rock. “I’ve always been a lover of music, rather than a lover of my own personality,” she explains, crediting her draw during the ‘70s and early ‘80s to the new music and unique, quality playlists. She recalls the night she was scheduled to host Aretha Franklin on her program, waiting with excitement until 1 a.m. when, finally, she had to break it to her L.A. listeners that the Queen of Soul would not be appearing after all.

Now back on the cutting edge of the latest radio genre — satellite radio — Dusty doesn’t see herself as reinventing as much as “returning to my youth.” Through the Internet and Facebook she hears from fans back in ’69, reconnecting through the generations because of rock and roll.

Dusty and Stephen

Dusty estimates that her personal record collection has been “whittled down to a mere 5,000 albums.” Many could become part of future Rock Hall exhibits along with her relics from more than 40 years in the music business, including her photo on the cover of “The Oracle,” a super-psychedelic magazine from the ‘60s San Francisco scene. But some of her best artifacts are the stories from rock’s early days, like the night a friend called at 2 a.m. asking to bring someone by to listen to her old blues records. “So I go, ‘OK, I’m still up, c’mon over.’ I open the door, and standing there is George Harrison.”

Visit AAA.com/siriusxm for details on exclusive member offers from SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Categories: [AAA GEM Attractions], [Attractions], [Ohio], [Travel Stories]

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