Bill Haley

Bill Haley (July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was one of the first American rock and roll musicians, and is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the mid-1950s with his hit song "Rock Around the Clock&quo

Bill Haley (July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was one of the first American rock and roll musicians, and is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the mid-1950s with his hit song "Rock Around the Clock".

Haley was born William John Clifton Haley (some sources append "Junior" to his name, but his eldest son states that this is erroneous) in Highland Park, Michigan and was raised in Pennsylvania. In 1946, Haley joined his first professional group, a country band called the "Down Homers", after which he set out on his own. He made a number of unsuccessful country music singles in the 1940s, for several labels, including Cowboy Records 1948-1949 while working as a touring musician and later a DJ. (Many of Haley's early recordings would not be released until after his death.) In 1951, he and his band, The Saddlemen, changed styles, recording cover versions of Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88" and "Rock this Joint". The relative success of the latter of these convinced Haley that he could be a successful rock and roller. In 1952, The Saddlemen became Bill Haley & His Comets, and in 1953, Haley's recording of his original composition, "Crazy Man Crazy," became the first rock and roll song to hit the American charts.