Editing Alan Freed (section)

==In popular culture==
An archived sample of Freed's introduction on the Moondog Show was used by [[Ian Hunter (singer)|Ian Hunter]] in the opening of the song "[[Cleveland Rocks]]", from Hunter's 1979 album ''[[You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic]]''.

The 1978 motion picture ''[[American Hot Wax]]'' was inspired by Freed's contribution to the rock and roll scene. Although director [[Floyd Mutrux]] created a fictionalized account of Freed's last days in New York radio by using real-life elements outside of their actual chronology, the film does accurately convey the fond relationship between Freed, the musicians he promoted, and the audiences who listened to them. The film starred [[Tim McIntire]] as Freed and included cameo appearances by [[Chuck Berry]], [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]], [[Frankie Ford]] and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], performing in the recording studio and concert sequences.
Freed was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1991. The organization's website posted this note: "He became internationally known for promoting African-American [[rhythm and blues]] music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://walkoffame.com/alan-freed/ |title=ALAN FREED |date=May 27, 1991 |work=Walk of Fame |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>

In the early 1960s, Freed's career was destroyed by the [[payola]] scandal that hit the broadcasting industry, as well as by allegations of taking credit for songs he did not write<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/05/son-dj-alan-freed-hall-of-fame-no-longer-want-ashes |title=Son of DJ Alan Freed says Rock Hall of Fame no longer want his cremated remains |date=August 5, 2014 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref> and by his chronic [[alcoholism]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/14/arts/the-man-who-knew-it-wasn-t-only-rock-n-roll.html|title=The Man Who Knew It Wasn't Only Rock 'n' Roll |date=October 14, 1999 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 3, 2021 |quote=He began drinking heavily ... he was accused of taking lucrative songwriting credits for songs that were actually written by members of the young groups he championed. }}</ref>

On January 23, 1986, Freed was part of the first group inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed |title=Alan Freed – 1986 – Category:Non-Performer|date=2017 |publisher=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |access-date=January 5, 2017 }}</ref> In 1988, he was also posthumously inducted into the [[National Radio Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiohof.org/alan_freed.htm |title=Alan Freed |date=2017 |publisher=National Radio Hall Of Fame |access-date=January 5, 2017 |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102072936/http://www.radiohof.org/alan_freed.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> On December 10, 1991, Freed was given a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.walkoffame.com/alan-freed |title=Alan Freed |date=2017 |publisher=Hollywood Chamber of Commerce |work=Walkoffame.com |access-date=January 5, 2017 }}</ref> The [[VH1]] series ''[[Behind The Music]]'' produced an episode on Freed featuring [[Roger Steffens]]. In 1998, The Official Website of Alan Freed went online with the jumpstart from [[Brian Levant]] and [[Michael Ochs]] archives as well as a home page biography written by [[Ben Fong-Torres]]. On February 26, 2002, Freed was honored at the [[Grammy Awards]] with the Trustees Award. In 2017 he was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in Detroit, Michigan.

Freed was used as a character in [[Stephen King]]'s short story "[[You Know They Got a Hell of a Band]]",<ref name=Danesi>Danesi, p. 121.</ref> and was portrayed by Mitchell Butel in its television adaptation for the ''[[Nightmares & Dreamscapes (TV Series)|Nightmares & Dreamscapes]]'' mini-series.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} He was the subject of a 1999 television movie, ''[[Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story]]'', starring [[Judd Nelson]] and directed by [[Andy Wolk]].<ref>{{Cite news |author=Weinraub, Bernard |author-link=Bernard Weinraub |title=The Man Who Knew It Wasn't Only Rock 'n' Roll|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/14/arts/the-man-who-knew-it-wasn-t-only-rock-n-roll.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 14, 1999 |access-date=January 5, 2017 }}</ref> The 1997 film ''[[Telling Lies in America]]'' stars [[Kevin Bacon]] as a disc jockey with a loose resemblance to Freed.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Holden, Stephen|author-link=Stephen Holden|title=60's Payola Is His First Taste of America|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9501E4DB173CF93AA35753C1A961958260|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 9, 1997 |access-date=January 5, 2017 }}</ref> [[Jack McBrayer]] portrayed Freed on the [[Comedy Central]] show [[Drunk History]] in a segment on Freed's legacy. The [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]' mascot [[Moondog (mascot)|Moondog]] is named in honor of Freed.<ref name=Danesi/>

Freed is mentioned in [[The Ramones]]' song "[[Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?]]" as one of the band's idols.<ref name=Danesi/> Other songs that reference Freed include "The King of Rock 'n Roll" by [[Terry Cashman]] and [[Tommy West (producer)|Tommy West]], "Ballrooms of Mars" by [[Marc Bolan]], "They Used to Call it Dope" by [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]], "Payola Blues" by [[Neil Young]], "Done Too Soon" by [[Neil Diamond]], "The Ballad of Dick Clark" by [[Skip Battin]], a member of [[the Byrds]], and "This Is Not Goodbye, Just Goodnight" by [[Kill Your Idols]].

The 2023 [[off-Broadway]] musical ''Rock & Roll Man'' follows Freed's rise and influence in radio using various songs that he played on the radio. [[Constantine Maroulis]] played Freed.

In 2024, [[RiffTrax]] produced and published a humorous commentary for the 1956 musical drama film ''[[Rock, Rock, Rock!]]'', in which Freed appeared on as a show presenter. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rifftrax.com/rock-rock-rock | title=Rock Rock Rock | date=June 28, 2024 }}</ref>