The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives at Cuyahoga Community College opened an exhibition of its collection featuring the World Series of Rock to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famed concert series on Wednesday, June 26. 

Fifteen World Series of Rock concerts were held at Cleveland Municipal Stadium between 1974 and 1980 and featured some of the biggest rock bands in the world at the time, including The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd. In 1979, the concert series was put on hold due to concerns about disorderly conduct and low ticket sales and was canceled permanently in 1980. 

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives at Cuyahoga Community College opened an exhibition of its collection featuring the World Series of Rock to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famed concert series on Wednesday, June 26.
Turn the page: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives at Cuyahoga Community College opened an exhibition of its collection featuring the World Series of Rock to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famed concert series on Wednesday, June 26. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell
Feels like the first time: Attendees at the World Series of Rock exhibit opening event read original newspaper articles about the shows and share their own concert experiences with each other.
Feels like the first time: Attendees at the World Series of Rock exhibit opening event read original newspaper articles about the shows and share their own concert experiences with each other. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell
For those about to rock: Memorabilia from the World Series of Rock, including a Scene Magazine show advertisement from 1975 and a photo of the Rolling Stones with soul singer/keyboardist Billy Preston at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Credit: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
For those about to rock: Memorabilia from the World Series of Rock, including a Scene Magazine show advertisement from 1975 and a photo of the Rolling Stones with soul singer/keyboardist Billy Preston at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Credit: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me: John Gorman served as WMMS program director from 1973 to 1986, developing what would become the soundtrack to the lives of many in an entire generation of Clevelanders. Gorman was one of the founders of the World Series of Rock.
Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me: John Gorman served as WMMS program director from 1973 to 1986, developing what would become the soundtrack to the lives of many in an entire generation of Clevelanders. Gorman was one of the founders of the World Series of Rock. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Life’s been good: Scene Magazine’s full-page ad for the July 11, 1975, show featuring Joe Walsh, whose music career started in Cleveland in the mid-1960s when he was a student at Kent State University. Walsh lived and played in the Cleveland area from 1965 to 1971.
Life’s been good: Scene Magazine’s full-page ad for the July 11, 1975, show featuring Joe Walsh, whose music career started in Cleveland in the mid-1960s when he was a student at Kent State University. Walsh lived and played in the Cleveland area from 1965 to 1971. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Dream on: A visitor browses through the books at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives.
Dream on: A visitor browses through the books at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Dream on: A visitor browses through the books at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives.
Rock of Ages: An example of the books available on the shelves at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. 
Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Some guys have all the luck: For three decades, Jules Belkin and his brother, Mike, booked, managed and promoted rock shows around Cleveland and across the country. The Belkins were among the originators of the World Series of Rock. Since the end of Belkin Productions, Jules has been an advocate and supporter of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture tax levy first passed in 2006 that helps support it.
Some guys have all the luck: For three decades, Jules Belkin and his brother, Mike, booked, managed and promoted rock shows around Cleveland and across the country. The Belkins were among the originators of the World Series of Rock. Since the end of Belkin Productions, Jules has been an advocate and supporter of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture tax levy first passed in 2006 that helps support it. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Rebel, rebel: David Bowie and Aretha Franklin grace the walls at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives.
Rebel, rebel: David Bowie and Aretha Franklin grace the walls at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Wish you were here: Local music photographer Mike Petrello attended several of the World Series of Rock concerts, including the Pink Floyd flyover show on June 25, 1977. Petrello has published a book of his photographs from the concert series.
Wish you were here: Local music photographer Mike Petrello attended several of the World Series of Rock concerts, including the Pink Floyd flyover show on June 25, 1977. Petrello has published a book of his photographs taken from Cleveland rock concerts through the 70’s and 80’s. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
I like that old time rock and roll: Attendees watch video footage of the crowds and band performances at the World Series of Rock, including Derringer, Aerosmith and the James Gang.
I like that old time rock and roll: Attendees watch video footage of the crowds and band performances at the World Series of Rock, including Derringer, Aerosmith and the James Gang. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Walk this way: Visitors to the World Series of Rock exhibit check out the memorabilia in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives.
Walk this way: Visitors to the World Series of Rock exhibit check out the memorabilia in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Let the good times roll: The guitar played by Benjamin Orr of The Cars at the Aug. 26, 1978, World Series of Rock show. Orr grew up in Parma, where he was known as “Benny Eleven Letters” due to his Ukrainian surname, Orzechowski, later shortened to Orr.
Let the good times roll: The guitar played by Benjamin Orr of The Cars at the Aug. 26, 1978, World Series of Rock show. Orr grew up in Parma, where he was known as “Benny Eleven Letters” due to his Ukrainian surname, Orzechowski, later shortened to Orr. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
Shine on you crazy diamond: Signal Cleveland audio producer Gennifer Harding-Gosnell picks up some pointers from world-renowned music journalist Jane Scott at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives on June 26, 2024.
Shine on you crazy diamond: I pick up some pointers from world-renowned music journalist Jane Scott at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives on June 26, 2024. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland
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I create audio stories meant to engage and inform people in a way that pushes beyond media stereotypes. I aim to build trust between local media and the community, striving to teach people “how” to think about life in Cleveland, not “what” to think.