© 2026 WGCU News
News for all of Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A Look At Cleveland's Music History, From Screamin' Jay Hawkins To Obnox

It’s been a big week for Cleveland with the Republican National Convention, but the city is used to royalty — rock royalty. The phrase “rock ‘n’ roll” is said to have originated here, from local DJ Alan Freed.

Here & Now‘s Robin Young went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and spoke with visitors and Meredith Rutledge-Borger, the museum’s associate curator, about Cleveland’s music history.

Rutledge-Borger said the music here has roots in the city’s African-American population that came here on the Underground Railroad and during the Great Migration.

Follow the Here & Now Election Road Trip on Tumblr.

Music From The Segment

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “I Put a Spell on You”

[Youtube]

Valentinos, “It’s All Over Now”

[Youtube]

Pere Ubu, “Final Solution”

[Youtube]

Pretenders, “Precious”

[Youtube]

Nine Inch Nails, “Hurt”

Array

The Black Keys, “Your Touch”

[Youtube]

Obnox, “Slaughter Culture”

Array

More Of Meredith’s Cleveland Music Picks

Guest

Meredith Rutledge-Borger, associate curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Meredith Rutledge-Borger, associate curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at the museum in Cleveland. (Jill Ryan/Here & Now)
/
Meredith Rutledge-Borger, associate curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at the museum in Cleveland. (Jill Ryan/Here & Now)

Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU