Bill Haley And His Comets - Songs

ABOUT

Bill Haley (July 6, 1925 - February 9, 1981) was a celebrated and pioneering figure in rock & roll who became famous beginning in the early 1950s. With his group, Bill Haley & His Comets, he took the world by storm in 1955 with the groundbreaking and chart-topping "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock," which was featured in the soundtrack to "Blackboard Jungle" (1955) starring Glenn Ford. This iconic early rock & roller had a resurgence in popularity in 1974 due to its use as the original opening theme to ABC TV's "Happy Days." Widely considered to be the #1 song that changed the course of pop music history and put rock & roll on the map worldwide, "Rock Around The Clock" was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2018.

Born William John Clifton Haley in Highland Park, Michigan into a musical family, he began performing publically in his early teens at various local events and at age 15, left home to pursue a music career. He began around the mid 1940s as a member of a country group known as the Down Homers and by the end of the decade, had formed his own bands, the Four Aces of Western Swing and the Saddlemen, who performed mostly country and western songs.

By 1951, Bill Haley & The Saddlemen - soon after renamed Bill Haley & His Comets - had radically changed their style with their cover of Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats' "Rocket 88" (1951). In addition to their signature song, "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock," Bill Haley & His Comets' long string of hits also includes such classics as "Crazy Man, Crazy" (1953), "Shake, Rattle And Roll" (1954), "Dim, Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere)" (1954), "Razzle-Dazzle/Two Hound Dogs" (1955), "Burn That Candle" (1955), "See You Later, Alligator" (1956), and "Skinny Minnie" (1958).

Bill Haley's numerous honors and accolades include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and being inducted posthumously into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The Comets were inducted separately as a group in 2012.

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VIDEO CLIP

Bill Haley And His Comets perform "Rock Around The Clock" on The Ed Sullivan Show (August 7, 1955).

Available on the following DVDs: Rock n' Roll Forever; A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary Special; (more)

SONGS

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Bill Haley And His Comets

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