Alan Merrill is an American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. In the early 1970s Merrill was the first westerner to achieve pop star status in Japan. He is the lead singer of the first ever released version and co-author of the song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll

I Love Rock 'n' Roll

"I Love Rock 'n Roll" is a rock song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of Arrows, who recorded the first released version. The song was later made famous by the hit version recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1981....

" by the Arrows in 1975.

Alan Merrill was born Allan Preston Sachs on February 19, 1951 in The Bronx

The Bronx

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...

, New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, the son of two jazz musicians, singer Helen Merrill

Helen Merrill

Helen Merrill is an internationally known jazz vocalist.Merrill's recording career has spanned six decades and she is popular with fans of jazz in Japan and Italy as well as in her native United States...

, and saxophone/clarinet player Aaron Sachs

Aaron Sachs

Aaron Sachs , is a well known jazz saxophone and clarinet player.-Overview:Sachs started as a young swing protege of Benny Goodman, and later eased into bebop music, playing with Earl Fatha Hines. He then formed his own bands, with some success recording and touring. He married singer Helen Merrill...

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He started his semi-pro career in his mid teens when he began playing in Greenwich Village's "Cafe Wha?

Cafe Wha?

Cafe Wha? is a club in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York City that has been home to various musicians and comedians. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The Velvet Underground, Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys, Kool and the Gang, Peter, Paul & Mary, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, Joan...

" with the bands The Kaleidoscope, The Rayne, and Watertower West

Watertower West

The Watertower West were an American band, based in New York, who were regular players at the Cafe Wha?, Greenwich Village from 1966 to 1968.The members were Carl Peachman , Alan Merrill , Jake Hooker , and James "Bucky" Hall .Merrill and Hooker later formed Arrows in London, England...

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