The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will showcase the photography of George Shuba in a new exhibit, “Cleveland Rocks,” set to open on Friday, October 10th in the Ahmet M. Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall.

In the 1950s and ’60s, Cleveland, Ohio was a major rock ‘n’ roll town. Many acts made their U.S. debuts in Cleveland, appeared on live TV, or performed in a venue few stars would dare to try today: high school auditoriums, believe it or not. And George Shuba took the shots, becoming the “Grandfather of Rock and Roll Photography.”  His big break came when he accepted an assignment from WHK radio to capture the arrival of The Beatles at the airport in September, 1964. From there, he went on to The Upbeat Show, a syndicated weekly television show in Cleveland that featured performances of the hottest rock and pop acts of the day. At the same time, Shuba worked for an additional two radio stations: WIXY and WKYC, as well as numerous record labels around the country, and covered the Cleveland scene for four decades.

In his book, Cleveland Rocks: The Birthplace of Rock and Roll, Shuba wrote: “Growing up in Cleveland gave me an incredible opportunity to experience the very best in music and the arts. I remember being inspired by the concerts, exhibitions, and hundreds of other educational experiences. This exposure formed my foundation as an artist.”

The “Cleveland Rocks” exhibition focuses on the years 1964-70. Shuba continued to photograph rock and roll stars until the late 1970s.

On Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the 4th Floor Theater as a part of the Rock and Roll Night School series, Shuba and Jicha will discuss Shuba’s photographs. This event is free. Please e-mail edu@rockhall.org or call (216) 515-8426 to RSVP. A book signing will follow this event.

Highlights from nearly 50 silver gelatin prints in the exhibition include:

Otis Redding and Mitch Ryder performing on The Upbeat Show in 1967 — Redding’s last performance;
Smokey Robinson at John Carroll University;
Sly and the Family Stone’s performance on The Upbeat Show;
The Beatles at Public Auditorium — the band’s shortest show to date;
Jim Morrison at Public Auditorium in 1968;
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel on The Upbeat Show – their first television performance;
Jimi Hendrix performing at Music Hall to a crowd of screaming fans;
Aretha Franklin live at Cleveland Arena;
The Rolling Stones performing at Public Auditorium;
The Who at Music Hall, throwing instruments into the crowd after a show.

The exhibit’s organizer is Jon Jicha, currently Professor of Art at Western Carolina University. “Cleveland Rocks” will run until January 4, 2009.  For more information on upcoming and current exhibits at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, visit www.rockhall.com/exhibits.

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