Bill Haley and the Comets - Rockin’ Around the Clock

By Erika Cox

Bill Haley and his Comets mixed Country music, Western swing and Rhythm and Blues to produce some of Rock and Roll’s earliest hits.

 

Bill Haley was born in Highland Park, Michigan on July 6, 1925. At thirteen, Haley received his first guitar and his first lessons from his father. Haley dreamed of being a country singing, guitar-playing cowboy and at 18 years old, he recorded his first song, “Candy Kisses” while playing guitar for different Country and Western bands.

 

In 1952, Haley and his new band changed their name and image from singing cowboys by taking off the cowboy hats and boots in exchange for the new Rock and Roll image and sound. As suggested by a record producer, the name was changed in reference to Haley’s Comet. The group signed up with Decca Records in New York signaling a new beginning for the group.

 

In 1953, Haley and the Comets recorded their first big hit, “Crazy Man Crazy”, which became the first Rock and Roll record to make it to the Top Ten and the first to be used in a television soundtrack. In April of 1956, Haley and the Comets recorded what is considered by many to be the first Rock and Roll song, “Rock Around the Clock”. At first, the song produced moderate sales but later on became an anthem and a huge success when it was used in the movie, Blackboard Jungle, the following year.

 

The group’s next big hit and most successful one was a noticeably different version or cover, however you want to look at it of Big Joe Turner’s, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”. Haley’s version is a slower version with more of a country western swing to it. Some say Big Joe Turner’s, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” with a more upbeat tempo was the first true Rock and Roll song.

The group’s song “Rock around the Clock”, which eventually sold 25 million copies an amazing feat at that time, more importantly contributed and introduced a shift in the musical culture. Rock and Roll had made its initial impact and would only continue to become more and more popular.

 

With the song Rock around the Clock, Haley was one of the very first artists to introduce Rock and Roll music to mainstream America. Haley and his Comets had many “first” in the history of Rock and Roll. Rock around the Clock was the first major internationally successful record. Haley was the first bandleader to form Rock and Roll group.

 

He was the first Rock and Roll artist to write his own music. The first to reach the national charts with music he wrote and recorded. Amazingly, he was the first artist to own his own music publishing company and to own his own record label and recording company.

 

Another big first, he was the first white artist to be elected as the "Rhythm & Blues Personality of the Year”, an honor that shows his ability to merge, Rhythm and Blues with Country Western, two of the ingredients for Rock and Roll music.

 

Also, he was the first white artist to tour with an all black supporting artists.

 

Haley was the first Rock and Roll artist to sell a million records, receive a gold record, go on a world tour, and sell a million records in England. This was his own version of the British Invasion, undoubtedly, Rock and Roll caught on in England soon after.

 

He also was among the first Rock and Roll artists to appear in a movie and have a hit record in Mexico. In 1987, Bill Haley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, however, at that time supporting bands were not recognized. Nevertheless, both Bill Haley and his Comets were inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

 

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