Haley, Bill (1925–1981)
US musician. A pioneering rock and roll singer, he led country-and-western bands around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between 1942 and 1952, when he formed the rhythm and blues-styled Bill Haley and His Comets. In 1954 his recordings of ‘Rock Around the Clock’ and ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ were among the earliest rock and roll hits. He had his last hit record in 1956, but continued to record and tour in rock and roll revival shows until 1980.
| Haley was born in Highland Park, Michigan. He was originally a western-swing musician, and his move from country to rock singer is well documented in the posthumous 1994 album Rock the Joint!. |
