By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11/18/24 – The old joke used to be that youth would say ‘Did you know Paul McCartney was in a Band before WINGS?’, now many in the younger generations don’t even KNOW who Paul McCartney or The BEATLES are! Iconic performers such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and hundreds of other influential icons of our music and arts past are relative unknowns to many today. Music and the arts of America (Movies-TV-Dance-Graphic Arts) have always been one of our greatest national exports to the World and a massive influence on Society, Fashion & Pop Culture across the globe. Unfortunately, with today’s fast-moving technology, diminishing attention spans, and the reduction of Arts in Schools, we are in danger of ‘losing a part of our history and culture’.
Longtime Arts & Entertainment Executive, Journalist and Historian, JAY ROCC is part of an all-star team that has launched a vital platform and foundation to help preserve, archive & celebrate great artists, producers, writers and works from the 1960’s – 1970’s – 1980’s – 1990’s. Focusing on ensuring enjoyment now and for future generations to learn from and be inspired by. Rocc emphasized, “Now, more than ever in our history, pioneers and innovators of music, visual arts and the arts are passing away without a trace of substantial interviews, comprehensive biographies, or archiving of their highly influential impacts on society from previous decades thru today!”
Jay saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan at age 5 and his family moved to England during the height of the British Invasion. He grew up in America as well as other parts of the World, gaining valuable experiences, playing instruments, touring across Europe, Central/South America, Asia, & Canada. After 10 years as a musician, he decided to dedicate his life to helping talent get heard, seen and “get their breaks”, becoming a Promotion & Marketing Executive for the last 50 years. Recognized as a Top Developer of Talent, he has been a Keynote Speaker at over 600 Arts & Entertainment Conferences nationwide and around the World, including NAMM, CES, MIDEM, NARM, Cannes Film Festival, MusArt, IES, New Music Seminar, Film Festivals, Grammy events, Tech Conferences & many more. As a top industry promoter, artist developer and marketing executive, he’s been involved in the breaking of hundreds of iconic & legendary artists including U2, Metallica, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, AC/DC, Madonna, Prince, KISS, Gwen Stefani-No Doubt, Sting-The Police, 2Pac, Eminem, N.W.A, Ramones, Dr Dre, Green Day, Snoop Dogg, Def Leppard & many more. Rocc has been a part of events with The Grammy Museum, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Smithsonian & more valuable institutions for many decades.
He has dedicated his life to archiving ‘greatness’ & preserving music, visual arts & music culture with the upcoming launch in 2025 of RockForeverWorld, a Video-On-Demand TV network & foundation. Housing thousands of in-depth, career spanning interviews with Artists, Producers, Writers, Executives & more. Featuring over 70 docu-style series celebrating every aspect of music culture including, Hit Songwriting, Recording of Classic Albums, Iconic Musicians, Best Tour Stories, Iconic Album Covers-Movie Posters, Historic Concerts-Performing Arts Venues, Classic TV Shows-Movies that included music, Iconic Music Videos-Short Films-Commercials, Historic Record Stores, Industry Innovators and many more across popular genres spanning the 60’s-90’s! Plus 80+ ‘Ultimate Salutes’ docu-style series celebrating Iconic Bands & Artists, with hundreds of interviews tracing their rise & breakthroughs. Inclusive of childhood friends, classmates, influential people in their lives, bandmates, crew members, producers, artists they toured with, their musical peers. All covered by revered journalists, documenting the historical locations and events that were vital parts of their history. Included are Series celebrating such icons as Van Halen, The Beatles, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Prince, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Heart, Tina Turner & many more.
In addition to content archiving “greats” for future generations, RockForeverWorld offers free education in music, acting, video/filmmaking, photography, dance, journalism & more to lower income youth. Offering scholarships for free music instruments, computers, cameras & advanced training to help keep future generations ‘achieving greatness’. Interested sponsors, donors & supporters are encouraged to contact: [email protected] or text 818-209-7300.
Joining his efforts are a visionary leadership team, the ’Founders Circle’, of world class co-hosts/authors/journalists like Roy Trakin, Shyan Selah & Alex Henderson; iconic album cover designers like Ernie Cefalu & Jimmy Wachtel; top photographers like Kevin Estrada, Daniel Gray, Joe Schaeffer, Michael Strider, Jimmy Steinfeldt along with many more caring and creative contributors. Together the team will innovate to celebrate and preserve the arts/music of our Past, Present & Future for generations to come! “It’s a true labor of love and so fulfilling,” exclaims Rocc, “As dozens of featured interview subjects have recently passed and knowing we have helped preserve their iconic legacies with landmark interviews and content for prosperity for future generations, this archive, network & foundation is doing timeless and invaluable work in American and British arts!”
