Where it all began.
Let Them Rock was launched in 2015 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, New York City. Its origins can be traced back to a century ago around the birth of a music genre we all know as rock and roll.
Rock and Roll is about Truth, and Freedom. It’s about breaking down barriers and breaking out of your shell. In the sixties, music was the driving force behind American culture. We looked to our artists to lead the message and to transform the passage of power from one generation to the next.
Although the sounds may have changed from generation to generation, one fact has remained. Music, no matter the kind, is where our soul finds passion, and love, and truth.
Meet our front man.
Our founder, Dr. Joseph Roberts, was a founding partner of the original School of Rock, (which inspired the popular movie). From one small school in Philadelphia, School of Rock has now grown to become the largest provider of music education in the world, with over 65,000 students from 350 schools in 15 countries.
From the very beginning he saw the transformative power of music in children’s and their families lives. School of Rock has broken down many of the geographic barriers that exists with providing music education. However, the socio-economic barriers remain.
This barrier became his next to break down. He laid the foundation for a non-profit based on the idea that no child should be without the ability to step on stage and create the beautiful, transformative sound that is rock and roll. Next, he had to give it a name. Let Them Rock was born.
Forming the band.
Dr. Roberts assembled a team of parents, musicians and believers to realize his vision. Since its founding, Let Them Rock has provided thousands of hours of music lessons and live performance opportunities to under-represented kids all over the country.
After a pause in fundraising during the Covid years, Dr. Roberts is rebirthing Let Them Rock with a new team to keep the vision alive!
It’s the hard work and dedication to this vision by the kids, their families, and our music instructors — the real rock stars! — that fuels the mission of Let Them Rock.
On the road with our tour manager.
Working closely with Dr. Roberts for two decades in School of Rock, with a passion for music performance and leadership in music education, Jamie Lima was part of the inaugural Let Them Rock event in Times Square, New York City in 2015. Forever inspired by the mission, Jamie serves on the Board of Directors, organizing promotions, fundraising, and the expansion of Let Them Rock, providing access to performance-based music opportunities to youth in underserved demographics.
Jamie@LetThemRock.org