Salem ‘rocks’ in the new year with music

Salem has rock ’n’ roll roots.

STAFF REPORT

SALEM — Salem’s fifth celebration of First Night will both celebrate and make rock ’n’ roll.

The city lays claim to disc jockey Alan Freed, who is credited with creating the “rock ’n’ roll” phrase decades ago. Freed was born near Johns- town, Pa., but his family moved to Salem in 1933.

The rock ’n’ roll flame still burns here as two local men — who have spent years rocking — will finally perform together for the first time on New Year’s Eve.

Main First Night events will be at the Kent City Center. One of the headliners will be Randy Strader, 65, of Salem, who performed with Dick Clark’s “Cavalcade of Stars” from 1962 to 1963. His band, Randy and the Renegades, played from 1961 to 1968.

The other headliner, John Gilbert, 53, also of Salem, has been performing as Paul Mc-Cartney in the Beatles tribute band Abbey Road for decades.

The men know each other and get together. But they have never performed together — until now.

Gilbert takes the Beatles seriously and makes sure his performers know their stuff. The band performs with four costumes: the Beatles in their gray suits, black suits, Sgt. Pepper outfits and the clothes they wore when they performed at Shea Stadium in New York.

Gilbert is going with the black suits and Sgt. Pepper-era duds for First Night.

Strader said his grandson helps with his band. “I’m 65, and I love it,” said Strader.

He had a personal tie to Freed’s manager, Lou Platt, who returned to Salem in 1958.

Strader recalled asking Platt to help him with his career. Platt eventually helped Strader and his band make a recording.

Platt had quoted Freed as saying, “Rock ’n’ roll will be a force. The songs may change.”

For the show on this New Year’s Eve, there also will be performances by a Patsy Cline impersonator, Eddy “Wolfman” Dawson doing a 1950s disc jockey show, and Tribute, a band that plays songs from rock’s later years.

David Schwartz, one of the First Night organizers, and local musician Bill Schilling will be co-emcees at the city center.

“Things really did fall into place at the right time,” Schilling said.

Other venues will be offering a wide selection of music including Broadway show tunes, Christian, folk and polka.

Various organizations will be offering traditional New Year’s Eve food.

Events not in the center are on venues on State Street.