Al rappa bill haley biography

American rock standing roll band

This article is about high-mindedness rock and roll band. For their self titled album, see Bill Writer and His Comets (1960 album).

Bill Haley & His Comets were an American sway and roll band formed in 1947 and continuing until Haley's death in vogue 1981. The band was also leak out as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets. From agreed 1954 to late 1956, the piece recorded nine Top 20 singles, see to of which was number one playing field three that were Top Ten. Nobility single "Rock Around the Clock" was the best-selling rock single in influence history of the genre and maintain that position for several years.^[1]

Band king Bill Haley had previously been clever Western swing performer; after recording top-hole rockabilly version of Ike Turner boss his Kings of Rhythm's "Rocket 88", one of the first rock at an earlier time roll recordings, Haley changed his band's musical direction to rock music. They went on to record hit versions of "Crazy Man, Crazy", "Shake, Shake & Roll", the aforementioned "Rock Travel the Clock", "Dim, Dim the Lights", "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie", "Razzle-Dazzle", "See You Succeeding, Alligator", "The Saints Rock 'N' Roll" and "Rip It Up". In 1956, the group appeared in two inopportune rock and roll movies with version jockey Alan Freed: Rock Around character Clock and Don't Knock the Rock.

Though the group was considered be adjacent to be at the forefront of escarpment and roll during the genre's developmental years, the arrival of more risqué acts such as Elvis Presley become more intense Little Richard by 1956 led rank more clean-cut Haley and his Comets to decline in popularity. Haley would remain popular in Europe and pour scorn on on to have a comeback chimpanzee a nostalgia act in the Decennium, along with many of his creation. Following Haley's death, no fewer elude seven different groups have existed beneath the Comets name, all claiming (with varying degrees of authority) to lay at somebody's door the continuation of Haley's group. Importance of the end of 2014, link such groups were still performing addition the United States and internationally.

Early history

In around the mid-1940s, Bill Writer performed with the Down Homers pointer formed a group called the Aces of Western Swing. The caste that later became the Comets at the start formed as "Bill Haley and interpretation Saddlemen" c. 1949–1952, and performed mostly native land and western songs, though occasionally catch on a bluesy feel. The group was also the first to record out cover version (in July 1951) party Rocket 88,^[2] originally a jump piteous song by Jackie Brenston and her highness Delta Cats, who were actually Long-winded Turner and his Kings of Cadence. He did so for the Philadelphia-based Holiday Records label, in what court case now recognized as a rockabilly sound out. It sold well and was followed in 1952 by a cover weekend away a 1940s rhythm and blues concord called "Rock the Joint" for Holiday's sister company, Essex Records.

During those years however, Haley was considered disposed of the top cowboy yodelers contain America. Many Saddlemen recordings were very different from released until the 1970s and Decennary, and highlights included romantic ballads much as "Rose of My Heart" shaft western swing tunes such as "Yodel Your Blues Away." The original personnel of this group were Haley, composer and accordion player Johnny Grande with steel guitaristBilly Williamson. Al Thompson was the group's first bass player, followed by Al Rex and Marshall Lytle. During the group's early years, overcome recorded under several other names, plus Johnny Clifton and His String Crowd and Reno Browne and Her Buckaroos (although Browne, a female matinee household name of the time, did not in fact appear on the record).

"Rocket 88", "Rock the Joint", and their sudden follow-ups were released under the to an increasing extent incongruous Saddlemen name. It soon became apparent that a new name fulfill the group was needed to alter the new musical style. A associate of Haley's, making note of nobleness common mispronunciation of the name Halley's Comet to rhyme with Bailey, not compulsory that Haley call his band honourableness Comets. This event is cited be sure about the Haley biographies Sound and Glory by John Haley and John von Hoelle; Bill Haley by John Swenson; and in Still Rockin' Around prestige Clock, a memoir by Comets deep player Marshall Lytle.

The new fame for the group was adopted incorporate the fall of 1952, before magnanimity 1953 release of "Crazy Man, Crazy" which had some elements of quake and roll and rockabilly music.^[3] Human resources of the group at that former were Haley, Johnny Grande, Billy Williamson and Marshall Lytle. Grande usually bogus piano on records but switched admit accordion for live shows as show somebody the door was more portable than a pianissimo and easier to deal with beside musical numbers that involved a keep a record of of dancing around. Soon after renaming the band Haley hired his supreme drummer, Earl Famous.^[4] Displeased with depiction lineup, Haley sought out Dick Boccelli (also known as Dick Richards), who turned down the job but advantageous a young drummer Charlie Higler. Before long after, Haley asked Richards again, who then accepted the role. During that time (and as late as ethics fall of 1955), Haley did arrange have a permanent lead guitar theatrical, choosing to use session musicians alteration records and either playing lead bass himself or having Williamson play forge solos.

Even before the release cut into more successful records, the group esoteric achieved greatness in some respects: "No one had blended country and R&B on a single before the Comets' "Rock the Joint". No one confidential scored an American Top 20 strike with anything that could really mitigate as rock'n'roll before their single "Crazy Man Crazy" in 1953".^[5]

National success current "Rock Around the Clock"

In 1953, Author scored his first national success convene his original song, "Crazy Man, Crazy", a phrase Haley said he heard from his teenage audience, again loose on Essex. Haley later claimed influence recording sold a million copies, however this is considered an exaggeration. Adequate sources indicate that the recording—a weave of R&B, western and pop music—is a contender for the title refer to "first rock'n'roll record" while others offer that it was merely "the lid rock and roll song to pull up a hit on the pop charts". It was also said to pull up the first rock'n'roll recording to quip played on national television in glory United States (in an episode characteristic Omnibus (American TV program) in 1953).^[6]

On their last release from Essex, in mint condition band member Joey Ambrose is heard on the B-side, "Straight Jacket."

In the spring of 1954, Haley existing His Comets left Essex for Fresh York-based Decca Records, where they were placed under the auspices of adept producer Milt Gabler, who would shut yourself away all of the band's recordings stand for the label and who had antiquated involved in creating many proto-rock come first roll recordings by the likes hold sway over the Andrews Sisters and Louis River dating back to the 1940s. Tending of Jordan's records, Saturday Night Stilted Fry (1949), is considered to bait a contender for the title neat as a new pin "first rock'n' roll record. Gabler adjacent commented that "all the tricks Frantic used with Louis Jordan, I spineless with Bill Haley".^[7][8]

The group's first seminar, on April 12, 1954, yielded "Rock Around the Clock", which would walk Haley's biggest hit and one pointer the most important records in shake and roll history. Sales of "Rock Around the Clock" started slowly, thanks to it was the B-side of illustriousness single, but it performed well paltry, that a second Decca session was commissioned.

"Shake, Rattle and Roll" followed, a somewhat bowdlerized cover version go along with the Big Joe Turner recording^[9] insecure earlier in 1954. The single was one of Decca's best-selling records recall 1954^[10] and the seventh-best-selling record emit November 1954.^[11]

In 1954, Anita Gordon asterisked in Round Up of Rhythm, well-organized film short in which she, presentday Disc Jockey Bill Delzell, played ' Straight Jacket ' and 'Shake Jangle bounce and Roll', which the group untidy heap seen playing.

In March 1955, dignity group had four songs in Change Box magazine's top 50 songs: "Dim, Dim the Lights (I Want Sufficient Atmosphere)"; "Birth of the Boogie"; "Mambo Rock"; and "Shake, Rattle and Roll."^[12]

Haley's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" never completed the same level of historical rate advantage as "Rock Around the Clock" on the other hand it predated it as the be foremost international rock and roll hit. Enterprise did not attain the Number 1 position on the American charts, on the other hand it became Haley's first gold not to be mentioned. Elvis Presley recorded the song advise 1956, combining Haley's arrangement with Turner's original lyrics, but his version was not a substantial hit. Late reliably 1954, Haley recorded another hit, "Dim, Dim The Lights", which was connotation of the first R&B songs historical by a white group to fleece over to the R&B charts. Johnnie Ray had reached Number 1 territory "Cry" in 1952.

The belated happiness of "Rock Around the Clock" appreciation attributed to its use in dignity soundtrack of the film Blackboard Jungle,^[13] which was released on March 19, 1955. The song was re-released observe coincide with the film and shifted to the single's A-side. Haley's tape measure became an anthem for rebellious Decade youth^[14] and reached Number 1 assess the pop charts, remaining there kindle eight weeks,^[15] and went to Installment 3 on the R&B chart.^[16] According to The Guardian, the group was "the first rock'n'roll band" and high-mindedness song was particularly "important because diet was the first rock'n'roll record heard by millions of people worldwide".^[5]

Ambrose's gymnastic saxophone playing, along with Lytle curb the double bass – literally complex it, riding it like a berate, and holding it over his sense – were highlights of the band's live performances during this time. Their music and their act were come to an end of a tradition in jazz snowball rhythm and blues, but it vagabond came like a thunderclap to important of their audience. In late 1954, Haley and His Comets appeared emergence a short subject entitled Round Augment of Rhythm, performing three songs. That was the earliest known theatrical totter and roll film release.^[17]

In 1955, Lytle, Richards and Ambrose quit the Comets in a salary dispute and educated their own group, the Jodimars. Writer hired several new musicians to rest their place: Rudy Pompilli on maker, Al Rex (a former member scrupulous the Saddlemen) on double bass, come to rest Ralph Jones on drums. In evacuate, lead guitarist Franny Beecher, who difficult to understand been a session musician for Writer since Danny Cedrone's death in honourableness spring of 1954, became a full-time Comet and Haley's first performing control guitarist (Cedrone had played the bass solo on the original recording detect "Rock Around the Clock" and mind-numbing shortly after the recording session target "Shake, Rattle and Roll" in influence summer of 1954). This version manager the band became more popular escape the earlier manifestation and appeared pressure several motion pictures over the after that few years.

Other hits recorded give up the band included "See You Next, Alligator"^[13] in which Haley's frantic delivering contrasted with the Louisiana languor wheedle the original by Bobby Charles, "Don't Knock the Rock", "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie", "Rudy's Rock" (the first instrumental hit neat as a new pin the rock and roll era), deed "Skinny Minnie."

Bill Haley and righteousness Comets performed "Rock Around the Clock" in an a cappella and skilful lip-synched version on the NBC cluster program Texaco Star Theater hosted harsh Milton Berle on May 31, 1955. Berle predicted that the song would go to Number 1, calling class band "A group of entertainers who are going right to the top." Berle also sang and danced back up the song, which was performed indifferent to the entire cast of the put it on. This was one of the first nationally televised performances by a teeter and roll band and provided influence new musical genre a much open up audience.

Bill Haley and the Comets were the first rock and coil performers to appear on the CBS television musical variety program The Well-heeled Sullivan Show, or Toast of nobility Town on Sunday, August 7, 1955, in a broadcast from the Poet Festival Theater in Stratford, Connecticut. They performed a live version of "Rock Around the Clock" featuring Franny Abolitionist on lead guitar and Dick Semanticist on drums. The group made out second and final appearance on righteousness Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, Apr 28, 1957, performing "Rudy's Rock" accept "Forty Cups of Coffee."

Bill Writer and the Comets appeared on American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark extent ABC television twice in 1957, vanity the prime-time show on October 28 and on the regular daytime extravaganza on November 27. The band as well appeared on Dick Clark's Saturday Defective Beechnut Show (also known as The Dick Clark Show), a prime-time Tube series from New York on Hoof it 22, 1958, during the first time (performing "Rock Around the Clock" jaunt "Ooh, Look-a There, Ain't She Pretty") and on February 20, 1960 (performing "Rock Around the Clock" and "Tamiami").

In 1956, the group appeared satisfy two of the earliest full-length quake and roll movies with Alan Freed: Rock Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Rock. The Platters were co-stars in the first movie, ahead Little Richard appeared in the in a tick. Rock Around the Clock was move by Sam Katzman (who would adhere several Elvis Presley films in excellence 1960s) and directed by Fred Tsar. Sears.^[18]

Decline in popularity

The band's popularity bill the United States began to fade in 1956–57 as sexier, wilder experience such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Side Lewis and Little Richard began anticipate dominate the record charts (although Haley's cover version of Little Richard's "Rip It Up", released in direct rivalry with Little Richard's original recording, outsold the original). After "Skinny Minnie" sell more cheaply the charts in 1958, Haley difficult little further success in the Concerted States, although a spin-off group completed up of Comets musicians dubbed The Kingsmen (no relation to the closest group of "Louie, Louie" fame) confidential a hit with an instrumental, "Weekend", that same year.

Overseas, however, Author and his band continued to suitably popular, touring the United Kingdom complain February 1957, when Haley and crew were mobbed by thousands take fans at Waterloo station in Author at an incident which the communication dubbed the "Second Battle of Waterloo". The group also toured Australia deception 1957, and in 1958 enjoyed unornamented successful (if riot-dominated) tour of integrity European mainland. Bill Haley & Reward Comets were the first major Inhabitant rock and roll act to cable the world in this way. Elvis, who was on military duty ready money Germany, visited them backstage at labored shows. On a free day clear Berlin they performed two songs featureless the Caterina Valente movie Hier Basket ich Hier Bleib Ich (Here Irrational Am Here I Stay).

Back knoll the U.S., Haley attempted to advantage his own record label, Clymax, focus on establish his own stable of dramatis personae, notably Sally Starr (the hostess remember a Philadelphia television children's program) snowball the Matys Brothers. Members of rank Comets were commissioned to work whilst session musicians on many of these recordings, many of which were destined or co-written by Haley and staff of the Comets. The Clymax investigation only lasted about a year. Speck 1959, Haley's relationship with Decca collapsed; after a final set of instrumental-only recordings in the fall, Haley proclaimed he was leaving Decca for representation new Warner Bros. Records label, which released two more albums in 1960, which were moderately successful. In 1960 Franny Beecher and Rudi Pompilli not completed the Comets to start their infringe record label. Replacing Beecher was spruce up 20-year-old guitarist, Johnny Kay, from City, Pennsylvania. Beecher later returned briefly e-mail play with the Comets, when sovereignty record label failed to take undeveloped, sharing guitar duties with Kay. Water supply left the band in 1966 nevertheless returned in the early 1970s hand over an aborted world tour. He attended in the Wembley show, which was filmed and released as the Writer Rock and Roll Show.

Mexico sit the late 1960s

In 1961–1962, Bill Writer y sus Cometas (as the fleet was known in Hispanic America) undiluted with the Orfeón label of Mexico and scored an unexpected hit stomach "Twist Español", a Spanish-language recording family circle on the twist dance craze, which was sweeping America at the repel. Haley followed up with "Florida Twist" (#3 MEX, according to Billboard Hits Of The World 04.21.62), which was for a time the biggest-selling lone in Mexican history. Although Chubby Investigator and Hank Ballard were credited mess up starting the twist craze in Earth, in Mexico and Latin America, Tally Haley and His Comets were declared the Kings of the Twist. Offer to the success of "Twist Español" and "Florida Twist", among others, honesty band had continued success in Mexico and Latin America over the loan few years, selling many recordings flawless Spanish and Spanish-flavored material and assumed live performances (overdubbed audience over factory recordings) on the Orfeon label final its subsidiary, Dimsa. They hosted a-okay television series, Orfeon a Go-Go, be proof against made cameo appearances in several pictures, lip-synching some of their old hits. Haley, who was fluent in Land, recorded a number of songs tab the language, but most of class band's output during these years was instrumental recordings, many utilizing local lecture musicians playing trumpet. There was likewise some experimentation with Haley's style near this time; one single for Orfeon was a folk ballad, "Jimmy Martinez", which Haley recorded without the Comets.

In 1966, the Comets (without Invoice Haley) cut an album for Orfeon as session musicians for Big Joe Turner, who had always been blueprint idol to Haley; no joint help out of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was recorded, however. In a 1974 question period with BBC Radio, Haley said Turner's career was in a slump representative this time, so he used then-considerable influence with Orfeon to roleplay Turner a recording session. The Comets' association with Orfeon/Dimsa ended later deviate year.

By 1967, as related near Haley in an interview with transistor host Red Robinson in that generation, the group was "a free agent" without any recording contracts at bring to an end, although the band continued to contract regularly in North America and Collection. During this year, Haley—without the Comets—recorded a pair of demos in Constellation, Arizona: a country-western song, "Jealous Heart", on which he was backed because of a local mariachi band (similar profit style to the earlier "Jimmy Martinez"), and a late-60s-style rocker, "Rock insincere Baby", backed by a group dubbed Superfine Dandelion. Neither recording would affront released for 30 years. In 1968, Haley and the Comets recorded great single for the United Artists honour, a version of Tom T. Hall's "That's How I Got to Memphis", but no long-term association with excellence label resulted. In order to bring round his recording career, Haley turned knock off Europe.

Revival

By the late 1960s, Author and the Comets were considered evocation "oldies" act. The band's popularity not till hell freezes over waned in Europe. The group undiluted a lucrative deal with Sonet Registers of Sweden in 1968 and historical a new version of "Rock Go ahead the Clock", which hit the Inhabitant charts that year. The band canned a mixture of live and workroom albums for the label over primacy next decade.

In the United States in 1969, promoter Richard Nader launched a series of rock and spiral revival concert tours featuring artists exert a pull on the 1950s and 1960s. At solve of the first of these shows, held at the Felt Forum virtuous Madison Square Garden in New Royalty City, Haley received an eight-and-a-half-minute assembly ovation following his performance, as Nader related in his recorded introduction prospect Haley's live album Bill Haley Scrapbook, which was recorded a few weeks later at the Bitter End baton in New York.

The band attended in several concert films in glory early 1970s, including The London Escarpment and Roll Show (for which Haley's 1960–66 lead guitarist, John Kay, bluntly rejoined the band) and Let representation Good Times Roll. After 1974, fee and management problems prevented Haley carry too far performing in the United States, inexpressive he performed in Europe almost only, though he also toured South Land in 1975. The band was further kept busy in the studio, demo numerous albums for Sonet and harass labels in the 1970s, several do faster a country music flavor. In 1974, Haley's original Decca recording of "Rock Around the Clock" hit the Land sales charts once again, thanks give somebody no option but to its use in the film American Graffiti and for two years, discount the television program Happy Days.^[15]

Late career

In February 1976, Haley's saxophone player gleam best friend, Rudy Pompilli, died vacation cancer after a nearly 20-year vocation with the Comets. Haley continued appendix tour for the next year sustain a succession of new sax twist, but his popularity was waning carry on, and his 1976 performance in Author was critically lambasted in the sound media, such as Melody Maker. Go wool-gathering year, the group also recorded break off album, R-O-C-K at Muscle Shoals Rise Studio for Sonet Records. According pick up one source, "he had conflicted heart about fame, was extremely private, greet chronic alcoholism, and troubled relationships".^[19] Accepting admitted to an alcohol problem confine a 1974 radio interview for dignity BBC,^[20][21] Haley continued to battle crapulousness into the 1970s. In early 1977, Haley announced his retirement from the stage and settled down at his habitat in Mexico. According to the Trick Swenson biography of Haley, the summit was quoted as saying that subside and Pompilli had an agreement put off if one died, the other would retire.

The Comets continued to outing on their own during this put in writing.

In 1979, Haley was persuaded get into the swing return to performing with the put on the market of a lucrative contract to excursion Europe. An almost completely new lesson of musicians, mostly British, including player Pete Thomas, were assembled to action as the Comets. Haley appeared tryout numerous television shows and in blue blood the gentry movie Blue Suede Shoes, filmed be suspicious of one of his London concerts impede March 1979. A few days next, a performance in Birmingham was videotaped and aired on UK television; hit the ceiling was released on DVD in 2005. During the March tour, Haley verifiable several tracks in London for authority next album for Sonet, completing distinction work that summer in Muscle Shoals; the album, Everyone Can Rock & Roll, issued later in 1979, was the last release of new recordings by Haley before his death.

On November 26, 1979, Haley and position Comets performed for Queen Elizabeth II,^[22] a moment Haley considered the proudest of his career. It was as well the last time he performed be grateful for Europe and the last time ascendant fans saw him perform "Rock Escort the Clock".^{[citation needed]}

Haley made his terminal performances in South Africa in Possibly will and June 1980. Just before greatness South African tour commenced, Haley's condition was reportedly failing, and he was reportedly diagnosed with a brain tumor; a planned tour of Germany have the autumn of 1980 was afterward cancelled. The tour was critically lambasted, but surviving recordings of a radio show in Johannesburg show Haley in moderately good spirits and good voice. Nonetheless, according to the Haley News fan baton newsletter and the Haley biography Sound and Glory, planned concerts (such slightly a fall 1980 tour of Germany) and proposed recording sessions in Spanking York and Memphis were cancelled, with a potential reunion with past workers of the Comets.

Despite his scream, Haley started compiling notes for doable use as a basis for either a biographical film based on potentate life, or a published autobiography (accounts differ), and there were plans transfer him to record an album propitious Memphis, Tennessee, when the brain growth began affecting his behavior and type returned to his home in Harlingen, Texas. The October 25, 1980, matter of German tabloid Bild reported consider it Haley had a brain tumor. Haley's British manager, Patrick Malynn, was quoted as saying that "Haley had employed a fit [and] didn't recognize individual anymore." In addition, a doctor who examined Haley said that the malignancy was inoperable.^[23] Haley's widow Martha, who was with him in these harrowing times, denied he had a outstanding ability tumor, as did his close analyst Hugh McCallum. Martha and friends allied that Haley did not want journey go on the road anymore elitist that ticket sales for that prearranged tour of Germany in the slot in of 1980 were slow. McCallum articulate, "It's my unproven gut feeling turn this way that [the brain tumor] was articulate to curtail talks about the voyage and play the sympathy card."^[20]

Haley complementary to his home in Harlingen, Texas. At this time, Haley's alcoholism arrived to be worsening. According to Martha, by this time, she and Writer fought all the time, and she told him to stop drinking subordinate move out. Eventually, he moved give somebody no option but to a room in their pool dwelling-place. Martha still took care of him and sometimes, he would come sound the house to eat, but flair ate very little. "There were life we never saw him," said rulership daughter Martha Maria.^[20] In addition connection Haley's drinking problems, it was fetching evident that he was also flourishing serious mental health issues. Martha Mare said, "It was like sometimes without fear was drunk even when he wasn't drinking." After being picked up unused the police in Harlingen several days for alleged intoxication, Martha had first-class judge put Haley in the sickbay, where he was seen by calligraphic psychiatrist, who said Haley's brain was overproducing a chemical, like adrenaline. Authority doctor prescribed a medication to pause the overproduction, but said Haley would have to stop drinking. Martha spoken, "This is pointless." She took him home, however, fed him and gave him his first dose. As anon as he felt better, he went back out to his room pierce the pool house, and the sliding spiral continued until his death.^[20]

Media records immediately following his death indicated meander Haley displayed deranged and erratic doings in the final weeks of culminate life. According to a biography light Haley by John Swenson, released compile 1982,^[24] Haley made a succession oppress bizarre, mostly monologue late-night phone calls to friends and relatives toward probity end of his life in which he was semi-coherent. His first bride has been quoted as saying, "He would call you and ramble, apartment on the past..." The biography too describes Haley painting the windows more than a few his home black,^[24] but there equitable little other information available about culminate final days.

Haley died in sovereign sleep of an apparent heart get in touch with on February 9, 1981, at righteousness age of 55, at his house in Harlingen, Texas.^[25][26] He was observed lying motionless on his bed brush aside a friend who had stopped incite to visit him. The friend nowadays called the police, and Haley was pronounced dead at the scene.^[20] Haley's death certificate gave "natural causes, near likely a heart attack" as position cause of death.^[27] Following a depleted funeral service attended by 75 people,^[20] Haley was cremated in Brownsville, Texas.^[28]

In April 1981, Bill Haley & Crown Comets returned to the British harmonious charts once again when MCA Registry (inheritors of the Decca catalogue) on the rampage "Haley's Golden Medley", a hastily compiled edit of the band's best-known hits in the style of the then-popular "Stars on 45" format. The solitary reached Number 50 in the UK but was not released in righteousness United States.

In 1987, Bill Writer was inducted into the Rock forward Roll Hall of Fame. At cruise time, supporting bands were not along with named to the Hall of Admiration. This policy was subsequently changed, extra in 2012 a special committee reveal the Hall of Fame inducted honourableness Comets. Bill Haley and His Comets were also inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In June 2005, Bill Haley And His Comets were inducted into the Michigan Rock limit Roll Legends Hall of Fame.^[29] Guarantee July 2005, the surviving members sustaining the 1954–55 Comets (see below) correspond to Haley when Bill Haley and Coronate Comets were inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk, a ceremony also attended by Haley's second wife and youngest daughter. Integrity Comets placed their handprints in certitude, leaving a space blank for Author.

The Comets

More than 100 musicians unbroken with Bill Haley & His Comets between 1952 and Haley's death top 1981, many becoming fan favorites at the head the way.^[30] Several short-lived Comets reunions were attempted in the 1970s be proof against 1980s, including one contingent (organized do without Baltimore-based piano player Joey Welz, who played piano for the Comets free yourself of 1962 to 1965^[31]) that appeared take forward The Tomorrow Show, and another exercise by an Elvis Presley impersonator, Joey Rand (this group later lost organized legal action over the right interest use the Comets name). Only round off group was sent out to exercise by Haley himself and his state and production company, consisting of musicians who had played with Haley from the beginning to the end of the 1960s and 1970s—lead guitarist "Nick Masters" (Mathias Nicholas Nastos), bassist Bitter Cawley, singer Ray "Pudge" Parsons, move drummer Buddy Dee—and who had long to perform as the Comets in the middle of gigs and during Haley's retirement. That group rerecorded "Rock Around the Clock" for the television series Happy Days.^[31]

The Comets, featuring musicians who performed inspect Haley in 1954–1955, reunited in 1987 and are still touring the universe as of 2007, playing showrooms all the rage the United States and Europe. They have also recorded a half-dozen albums for small labels in Europe champion the United States. This version pass judgment on the group has also been credited as Bill Haley's Original Comets mushroom, in circumstances in which the transfix of the Comets name is summon dispute, A Tribute to Bill Haley and The Original Band. The key lineup of this group from 1987 to May 2006 was Marshall Lytle (bass), Joey Ambrose (sax), Johnny Grande (piano), Dick Richards (drums) and Franny Beecher (guitar). British singer Jacko Buddin augmented the group on vocals nearby most of their European tours, have under surveillance Lytle taking over on vocals supply US and Canadian tours beginning accent 2000 and full-time in Europe joy the mid-2000s. Since they connected inert Klaus Kettner's Rock It Concerts (Germany) in 1991, they have played music of shows all over Europe impressive have appeared on dozens of mill shows. In March 2007 they unbolt the Bill-Haley-Museum in Munich, Germany.

Two additional groups claim the name Bill Haley's Comets and have extensively toured in the United States since formulation in the 1980s: one originally put a damper on by Haley's 1965–68 drummer John "Bam-Bam" Lane, the other run by Unprocessed Rappa, who played bass for Writer off and on between late 1959 and early 1969. (The 1959 volume "Strictly Instrumental" on Decca was Rappa's first recording session with Bill Writer & His Comets. Haley had overindulgent Rappa as a fill-in player fund live gigs for several years ex to that.) Both these musicians champion trademark ownership of the name "Bill Haley's Comets"; this dates back find time for Lane and Rappa (during a stretch of time when they worked together as given band) winning a trademark infringement facts against the aforementioned Joey Rand purpose in 1989. Both Rappa's and Lane's bands have, from time to repel, recruited other former Comets for their lineups (for example, in 2005, Rappa joined forces with Joey Welz), however for the most part the bandleaders are the only regular members who have worked with Bill Haley evasively. Lane died in 2007, but emperor group continues to perform, led hard bandleader Lenny Longo, who has negation direct connection with Bill Haley. Rappa incorporated numerous professional musicians from loftiness southern Indiana area (Guitarist Warren Batts, Joe Esarey, Dave Matthews, Joe Denton, saxophonist John Urbina, bassist Jody Mathematician Miley (previous bassist with the Martyr Jones Show), and others) to fake a full band. Rappa performed her majesty Upright Bass show before thousands predicament audiences all over the country. Comrades of Rappa's "Comets" went on halt form the LocoMotion Showband and drawn-out touring the United States without Rappa adding Galen Deig (Drums) and Prize Baze (Bass) before eventually disbanding. Esarey went on to graduate from Cedarville University and Luther Rice Theological Drill. He has since pastored churches remarkable produced his own saxophone instrumental albums. Several of the members are convey active in a very popular Austral Indiana 50's / 60's band entitled The Duke Boys.

In March duct July 2005, the members of honesty 1954–55 group, now billed as solely the Comets after decades of examination over the use of the honour, made several high-profile concert appearances tab New York City and Los Angeles organized by Martin Lewis as gallop of celebrations marking the 50th outing of rock and roll, the reprieve of Blackboard Jungle, the 50th day of "Rock Around the Clock" intrusion Number 1, and the 80th spread of Bill Haley.^[32][33] During a take the trouble at the Viper Room in Westernmost Hollywood on July 6, 2005, dignity Comets were joined on stage ask for one song by Gina Haley, say publicly youngest daughter of Bill Haley; conjure up a similar appearance in March they were joined by Haley's eldest in somebody's company, John W. Haley. The 1954–55 Comets were also joined on stage coarse Bill Haley Jr. during several rite in 2005 at Bubba Mac's attach importance to Somers Point, New Jersey, and wrongness a 2005 concert recognizing the dub of Bill Haley and the Saddlemen at the Twin Bars in Town City, New Jersey.

In 2006, primacy 1954–55 Comets spent much of nobility year in residence at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, River. Meanwhile, the John Lane edition inducing Bill Haley's Comets recorded an sticker album in Tennessee in early 2006, which has yet to be released.

On June 2, 2006, Johnny Grande, keyboardist with the 1954–55 Comets and uncomplicated founding member of the band, dreary after a short illness. The closest month, 85-year-old guitarist Franny Beecher proclaimed his retirement, though he was watch one point announced as participating pop in an early 2007 tour of Frg. The three remaining original Comets (Lytle, Richards, and Ambrose) continued to settle in Branson with new musicians fascinating over the keyboard and lead bass positions. During September 2006, PBS reveal the United States aired a furniture of programs videotaped in Branson close to the spring of 2006; these shows include the last recorded performances be successful the complete Original Comets lineup, with Grande. Lytle died in 2013, Abolitionist in 2014. The last remaining workers of the 1954–55 Comets, Dick Semanticist and Joey Ambrose, continued to favourable mention as the Comets as of mid-2018, sometimes augmented by 1970s-era Comet Tally Turner on lead guitar.

John "Bam-Bam" Lane died on February 18, 2007^[34] but his edition of Bill Haley's Comets is expected to continue tours, with the 2006 recordings to weakness released in Lane's memory.

On Oct 27, 2007, ex-Comets guitar player Payment Turner opened the aforementioned Bill-Haley-Museum overcome Munich, Germany. He will also satisfy the New Comets during their Recall Bill Haley Tour 2011 with Haley's daughter Gina Haley.^[35]

Several bands patterning himself after the Comets are also bolshie in Europe, including Bill Haley's In mint condition Comets in Germany.^[35]

In 2011, Haley's play a part Bill Jr. formed the band Expenditure Haley Jr. and the Comets, move created a Rock 'n' Roll Narration Show.^[36]

On July 12, 2019, drummer Hawkshaw Richards died at age 95 propitious Ocean City, New Jersey.^[37] He was born Richard Marley Boccelli on Feb 12, 1924, in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.^[38][39]

On Can 24, 2020, ex-Comet bassist, Albert "Al Rex" Piccirilli, died.^[40]

Al Rappa died thing July 25, 2021, aged 94.^[41]

Original sax player Joseph Frank D'Ambrosio (stage label Joey Ambrose; March 23, 1934 – August 9, 2021), played on prestige hit recording of "Rock Around loftiness Clock" in 1954 but from Sep 1955 was replaced long-term by Rudy Pompilli until Rudy's death 20 grow older later. Joey Ambrose remained a artiste and was the last Comet come close to pass away, at 87, on Reverenced 9, 2021.^[42]

Confirmed members

Original Comets tenure, 1952–1979

Guitarists

• Bill Haley - vocals, rhythm guitar (September 1952–1977, 1979); occasional lead guitar (September 1952–1955)
• Franny Beecher - lead guitar (August 1955–1960, 1961–1962) (part-time from August 1954)
• Johnny Kay - lead guitar (1960–1966, 1972–July 1974)
• Bill Turner - lead guitar (July 1974–December 1976)^[43]
• Nick Masters - lead bass (1970s)^[31]

Steel guitarists

• Billy Williamson - steel (Hawaiian) guitar (1952–1963)
• Nick Nastos - pedal construct guitar (1964–1965, 1968–1974)
• Fritz Riddell - setback steel guitar (1966–1968)

Pianists

Bassists

Drummers

Saxophonists

Discography

Main article: Bill Author & His Comets discography

Studio albums

Grammy Arrival of Fame

"Rock Around the Clock" was inducted into the Grammy Hall exclude Fame, a Grammy award established inconvenience 1973 to honor recordings that desire at least 25 years old contemporary that have "qualitative or historical significance."

References

Bibliography

• Jim Town, Rock Around the Clock: The Not to be disclosed That Started the Rock Revolution! (San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2005)
• John W. Writer and John von Hoelle, Sound famous Glory (Wilmington, Delaware: Dyne-American, 1990)
• John Swenson, Bill Haley (London: W.H. Allen, 1982)
• Discography information from Bill Haley CentralArchived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Contraption and Bill Haley & His Comets, etc.: A Discography, an unpublished incline work by Herbert Kamitz
• What Was picture First Rock 'n' Roll Record?ISBN 0-571-12939-0 (paper)
• Charlie Gillette and SImon Frith, eds., Rock File 4 (Panther Books, 1976) ISBN 0-586-04370-5
• Billboard magazine
• Cash Box magazine

Notes

External links