"Clay Cole & the Rock ‘n’ Roll Years at the Brooklyn Paramount (1954-1967)"
Free Conference at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus, March 27
Cole, TV host of early shows with Rolling Stones, Chubby Checker, to give keynote address
- Doo-wop performance by Tony Middleton of The Willows -

Brooklyn, N.Y. - On Friday, March 27, a lively one-day conference that is free and open to the public will explore the rock ‘n’ roll years at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. Clay Cole, the legendary impresario whose television shows featured guests like the Rolling Stones and Chubby Checker, is the keynote speaker. A doo-wop performance by Tony Middleton of The Willows fame also is planned.

"Clay Cole & the Rock ‘n’ Roll Years at the Brooklyn Paramount (1954-1967)," will take place on Friday, March 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Campus, located in downtown Brooklyn on the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb avenues. The panel discussions will be held in the Spike Lee Screening Room, the performance in Humanities Building Room 106.

Anthropology professor Michael Hittman, coordinator of the event, said, "The conference will focus on two important interrelated events in American popular music: the transformation of rock ‘n’ roll from "race music" or rhythm ‘n’ blues during the 1950s; and the role played by Long Island University’s historic landmark, the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre."

Conference panelists will discuss topics such as the importance of rock ‘n’ roll in racial integration during pre-Civil Rights years, censorship of lyrics, the role played by the media, as well as the rock ‘n’ roll shows at the Brooklyn Paramount.

With his popular television programs, Clay Cole was the first to host Chubby Checker and introduce "The Twist" in 1960, professor Hittman said, and hosted the Rolling Stones early in their career in the United States. In 1961, his 10-day show at the Brooklyn Paramount broke every previous box office record. His book, "Sh-boom! The Explosion of Rock ‘n’ Roll (1943-1968)," will be published by Morgan James Publishing Company in May. Tony Middleton was a member of The Willows, known for the song, "Church Bells Will Ring."

Other participants include John A. Jackson, author of "Big Beat Heat: Alan Freed & The Early Rock ‘n’ Roll Years" and "American Bandstand: Dick Clark & Making of An American Empire;" Deborah Nader, director of Richard Nader Doo Wop Productions; film critic Armond White; producer Richie "O;" and percussionist Eric Frazier, among others.

For more information about the event, contact Dr. Hittman at (718) 488-1185.

Media Contact: (718) 488-1015

Posted: February 3, 2009