David Franklin

Jews, Rock and Roll: Jewish America told through Music

Downtown Arts Development, in collaboration with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, is creating the first comprehensive exhibit capturing the influence and cultural impact of Jews in music history, sparking a conversation about the Jewish experience in America. Jews, Rock and Roll inspires audiences towards greater understanding of the underlying Jewish values and perspectives that informed Jewish involvement in music and Jewish influence on contemporary popular culture, utilizing the power of music to attract, inspire, entertain, and educate. Audiences will gain an understanding of America and Jewish history through the diverse connections musicians and producers have to their own Jewish story.

Jews, Rock and Roll will tour as a traveling exhibit creating “Pop-up Museums” in short-term storefront rentals in 10 to 15 different cities across North America. Over 250,000 people will see the exhibit over two-three years.

Jews, Rock, and Roll will exhibit memorabilia on loan from the permanent collection of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as material from other leading collections such as the Smithsonian Museum and various artists’ private holdings. Jews, Rock, and Roll will display 75 important artifacts and tell the stories of how Jews have been an integral part onstage and backstage from performers, independent record labels owners, major recording studio executives, and on-air DJs, to actually naming the genre Rock and Roll. We’ll tell the story of how The Jefferson Airplane might not have happened without the State of Israel, and share personal anecdotes from Dylan, Lieber and Stoller, Carol King, Leonard Chess and Joey Ramone, and Phish.