MUASREUT M
THE STORY OF A BOY
Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution
By Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron R. Fodiman
Photography by Gram and Noraa
Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution,” an exhibit on
display at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg,
traces the indomitable spirit of music promoter Bill
Graham, who came to the United States at age 11 while
fleeing the Nazis. His mother, who they later killed, had the
foresight to place young Bill in a Berlin orphanage when being
a Jew in Germany became perilous. The orphanage sent Bill
to France during a pre-Holocaust exchange of Jewish children
for Christian orphans. He lived there until 1942, when he was
among a group of orphans who were spirited out of France
by the Red Cross and sent to New York after France fell to the
Germans. Graham grew up, was drafted and served in the U.S.
Army during the Korean War. After returning to civilian life, he
moved to San Francisco, where at age 34, he excelled in what was
to become his life’s work –– producing groundbreaking shows.
Graham leased the Fillmore Auditorium and began to sell
out concerts by groups such as the Grateful Dead, Cream, the
Doors and Big Brother and the Holding Company. Due to his
ability to promote, market and manage artists, he became one
of the music industry’s most recognized leaders.
As a music impresario, Graham saw the possibility of rock ‘n’
roll as a force to support humanitarian causes. He helped organize
milestone benefit concerts such as Live Aid (1985) and Human
Rights Now! (1988), working with many of the greats from the
Rolling Stones to Santana until his death in 1991.
The Florida Holocaust Museum’s retrospective of Graham’s
life and career includes photographs, archival concert footage,
historical and new video interviews, memorabilia and art. It
also explores how he helped to transform rock music into the
powerhouse that it remains today. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution”
is on display through February 10 at the Florida Holocaust Museum,
55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg, (727) 820-0100.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 71
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Rock promoter
Bill Graham stands in
his Fillmore East venue
in New York City.
JOHN OLSON/THE LIFE PICTURE COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES