"the Comets. (This event is cited in the Haley biographies ""Sound and Glory"", by John Haley and John von Hoelle, and ""Bill Haley"", by John Swenson, and in ""Still Rockin' Around the Clock"", a memoir by Comets bass player Marshall Lytle.) The new name was adopted in the fall of 1952. Members of the group at that time were Haley, Grande, Williamson and Lytle. Grande usually played piano on record, but switched to accordion for live shows as it was more portable than a piano and easier to deal with during musical numbers that involved a lot of dancing around."
"group, the Saddlemen in 1949. Grande was one of the original business partners who formed the Saddlemen (the other partners being Bill Haley himself (d. 1981) and steel guitarist Billy Williamson (d. 1995)). During the Labor Day weekend of 1952, the Saddlemen, realizing that their musical style was moving away from country and western decided to change their name to The Comets. Although primarily a piano player, Grande performed on accordion during most live shows as it was easier to transport than a piano, plus the hand-held instrument allowed him to participate more directly in the band's acrobatic instrumentals, such"
"Haley and the Comets during their regular gigs at the Twin Bar in Gloucester City NJ just across the river from Philadelphia during the early 1950s. The city and its suburbs have since been the home of a couple of influential rock artists like Joan Jett. Many bands call Philadelphia home, and the area is constantly highly regarded by rock bands and artists. The area includes critically acclaimed rock and metal bands, including A Life Once Lost, Cinderella, Circa Survive, Valencia, Sinch, Free Energy, Dead Milkmen, Hall and Oates, The Hooters and The A's, Todd Rundgren. Popular rock and indie"
"and produced his own saxophone instrumental albums. In March and July 2005, the members of the 1954–55 group, now billed as simply the Comets after decades of controversy over the use of the name, made several high-profile concert appearances in New York City and Los Angeles organized by Martin Lewis as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of rock and roll, the release of ""Blackboard Jungle"", the 50th anniversary of ""Rock Around the Clock"" hitting Number 1, and the 80th birthday of Bill Haley. During a concert at the Viper Room in West Hollywood on July 6, 2005, the"
"with Franny Beecher, ""Lean Jean"", ""Better Believe It"", ""China Twist"", ""Happy twist"", ""Twist del Dia"", ""Tampico Twist"", and ""Two Shadows"". Johnny Grande John A. ""Johnny"" Grande (January 14, 1930 – June 3, 2006) was a member of Bill Haley's backing band, The Comets. Born in South Philadelphia, Grande played piano and accordion with Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, later known as Bill Haley & His Comets, from 1949 to 1962-63. One of his jobs was to keep track of musical arrangements for the group as he was one of the few members who could read sheet music. Grande and steel"
"the Comets to play a concert at municipally-owned Roosevelt Stadium. The latter act is believed to have inspired Haley to write the first protest song in rock and roll, ""Teenager's Mother,"" which included the lyrics ""Are you right? Did you forget too soon? How much you liked to do the Charleston?"" In 1956, after the 1954 closing of the US immigration station, Berry commandeered a US Coast Guard cutter and led a contingent of New Jersey officials on an expedition to claim Ellis Island. He died on January 6, 1963. Bernard J. Berry Bernard J. Berry (July 3, 1913 –"
"the group change their name to the Comets after Halley's Comet. After the group was signed to Decca Records, Miller was sued by Haley for selling the group's former hits on his Essex label without paying royalties. Miller went bankrupt. Under his Miller International Company formed in 1957, with his Essex Records office manager George Phillips, he founded Somerset Records and Somerset Stereo Fidelity Records budget albums. His greatest claim to fame was selling large amounts of cheaply priced albums, with Somerset claiming to have manufactured the first stereo budget albums. The name of Somerset high fidelity albums was suggested"
"paid royalties on the songs since the 1960s. Prior to this group's formation, another group called The Kingsmen operated in 1958 and was made up of members of Bill Haley & His Comets who were moonlighting from their regular work with Haley. This group scored a hit record (#35) on Billboard with the instrumental entitled ""Week End"", written by Rudy Pompilli, Franny Beecher, and Billy Williamson, backed with ""Better Believe It"" as the B side. They released a follow-up single on East West Records featuring ""The Catwalk"" backed with ""Conga Rock"". Although the Comets did the actual recordings, when the"
"in reference books as being a 1957 release, due to its December 1956 premiere). The film was an immediate follow-up to the earlier ""Rock Around the Clock"", which had also starred Haley and Freed. Although Haley and the Comets were the top-billed stars of the film, their role in it was relatively minor and the film failed to duplicate the box office success of its predecessor. Today it is notable for the performances of Bill Haley and His Comets and Little Richard and the appearance of Alan Freed, all members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The version"
"at an incident which the media dubbed the ""Second Battle of Waterloo"". The group also toured Australia in 1957, and in 1958 enjoyed a successful (if riot-dominated) tour of the European mainland. Bill Haley & His Comets were the first major American rock and roll act to tour the world in this way. Elvis, who was on military duty in Germany, visited them backstage at some shows. On a free day in Berlin they performed two songs in the Caterina Valente movie ""Hier Bin ich Hier Bleib Ich (Here I Am Here I Stay)"". Back in the U.S., Haley attempted"
"to 1 pm), and in 1953, Haley's recording of ""Crazy Man, Crazy"" (co-written by him and his bass player, Marshall Lytle, although Lytle would not receive credit until 2001) became the first rock and roll song to hit the American charts, peaking at number 15 on ""Billboard"" and number 11 on ""Cash Box"". Soon after, the band's name was revised to ""Bill Haley & His Comets"". In 1953, ""Rock Around the Clock"" was recorded by Haley. Initially, it was relatively successful, peaking at number 23 on the ""Billboard"" pop singles chart and staying on the charts for a few weeks."
"performing in the United States and internationally. In the mid-1940s, Bill Haley performed with the Down Homers and formed a group called the Four Aces of Western Swing. The group that later became the Comets initially formed as Bill Haley and the Saddlemen c. 1949–1952, and performed mostly country and western songs, though occasionally with a bluesy feel. During those years Haley was considered one of the top cowboy yodelers in America. Many Saddlemen recordings were not released until the 1970s and 1980s, and highlights included romantic ballads such as ""Rose of My Heart"" and western swing tunes such as"
"Johnny Grande John A. ""Johnny"" Grande (January 14, 1930 – June 3, 2006) was a member of Bill Haley's backing band, The Comets. Born in South Philadelphia, Grande played piano and accordion with Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, later known as Bill Haley & His Comets, from 1949 to 1962-63. One of his jobs was to keep track of musical arrangements for the group as he was one of the few members who could read sheet music. Grande and steel guitarist Billy Williamson were both members of the country band, Southern Swingsters before convincing Bill Haley to start a new"
"His Comets / from the 1960s: Del Shannon, The Supremes, The Marvelettes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye ""The Prince of Soul"", Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Aretha Franklin ”The Queen of Soul” (d.2018), Mary Wells, Tommy James and the Shondells, ? and the Mysterians / from the 1970s: Al Green, The Spinners, Grand Funk Railroad, The Knack/ from the 1980s: Madonna ""The Queen of Pop"", Bob Seger, Ray Parker Jr. / from the 1990s: Aaliyah ""The Queen of Urban Pop"" / from the 2000s: Eminem (who has had 10 #1 albums from The Marshall Mathers LP"
"Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets is the title of an early rock and roll music compilation album issued by Essex Records (ESLP 202) in 1954, and featuring music by the titular group, Bill Haley & His Comets. The album features recordings made by Haley in 1952 and 1953, including his hits, ""Rock the Joint"", ""Crazy Man Crazy"" (""Billboard"", #12, ""Cashbox"", #11), ""Fractured"" (""Billboard"", #24), and ""Live It Up"" (""Billboard"", #25). The album is the earliest known LP release of the rock and roll genre, predating similar releases by Elvis Presley and"
"the Comets made their second appearance on the show. They also performed the song on October 20, 1958 in Brussels, Belgium at the Royal Flemish Theatre (KVS) and in Lima, Peru in 1961 with Al Dean on saxophone in a radio broadcast version (during a brief period when Pompilli had left the band). It was a major part of Haley's stage show for the rest of his career. Live versions of the song appeared on the live albums ""Bill Haley's Scrapbook"" (recorded in New York City in December 1969 for Kama Sutra/Buddah Records) and ""Live in London '74"" (recorded in"
"His Rocks recorded the song in 1957 which was released in Brazil. Johnny Kay's Rockets released a recording of the song on the 2009 CD ""Johnny Kay: Tale of a Comet"" on Hydra. Bill Haley and the Comets performed the song in Lima, Peru in 1961 with Al Dean on saxophone in a radio broadcast version. Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie is a 1952 song composed by Bill Haley and first recorded by The Esquire Boys in 1952. Bill Haley and the Comets recorded the song in 1955 for Decca. The song was featured in the 1956 movie ""Rock Around the"
"be located and identified. No film footage or live performance recordings of Cedrone performing with the Comets is known to exist, and it is believed that he never performed with the band on stage. Note: Guyden 705 was also released as a 45 single in Belgium on the Ronnex Records label as 1703. The band was still active after Cedrone's death, and disbanded in the late 1950s. Danny Cedrone Donato Joseph ""Danny"" Cedrone (June 20, 1920 – June 17, 1954) was an American guitarist and bandleader, best known for his work with Bill Haley & His Comets on their epochal"
"1958. Bill Haley & His Comets from Chester had a #1 hit with ""Rock Around the Clock"" in 1955. This was a number-one single in the U.S. and was the first successful rock and roll song. Formed in 1964, Harrisburg-based The Magnificent Men, became the only white act to ever headline New York 's legendary Apollo Theatre and the other major stops on the rhythm and blues chitlin circuit. In 1967, they got to back James Brown as he filled in for an absent headliner. Despite the last minute nature of the arrangement, the Godfather was floored by the band’s"
"and ""Caroline's Pony"". He co-wrote the song ""Teenage Love Affair"" for the Cook Brothers, who released it as a single on Arcade Records in 1960. Billy Williamson (guitarist) William F. Williamson (February 9, 1925 – March 22, 1996) was the American steel guitar player for Bill Haley and His Saddlemen, and its successor group Bill Haley & His Comets, from 1949 to 1963. A founding member of both the Saddlemen and the Comets, Williamson often acted as the band's emcee and comic relief during live concerts; he also played lead guitar on occasion. He was with the band when they"
"and the tracks Haley recorded for Holiday were rolled into the Essex catalog. Later, in the early 60's, Haley recorded for Sam Phillips on Holiday Inn Records formed by D. Wayne Foster and Kemmons Wilson. Holiday Records Holiday Records was an American record label based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which was active in the early 1950s. Owned by Dave Miller, who also owned Essex Records, it is best known for releasing some of the earliest recordings widely identified as rock and roll, most notably ""Rocket 88"" by Bill Haley and His Saddlemen (later known as The Comets) in 1951. Dave"
"Go! Go!"" reached #10 on the R&B chart, but several of their other records including ""It Rocks! It Rolls! It Swings!"" (1952) and ""Rockin' Is Our Bizness"" (1953) ""anticipated some crucial elements of rock n roll with their solid, thumping beats, their squealing sax solos."" In the 1950s, they moved closer towards an R&B influenced sound, but were unable to weather the influx of rock and roll. Nonetheless the group was considered a strong influence on bands such as their contemporaries Bill Haley and His Comets, and they were one of the first to record Haley's ""Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie"". Claude Trenier"
"Chile Robinson, Nellie Lutcher, and Wild Bill Davis. In the summer of 1956, Lewis still had one more year to complete at Seattle's Franklin High School, but his combo was the hottest item in the region. They toured the Pacific Northwest as the opening act for a leg of a Bill Haley & His Comets tour. This led to similar opportunities with Ray Charles, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Platters, Ike and Tina Turner, the Drifters, Roy Orbison, and Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps. In summer 1957, Lewis and his combo settled in for a long tenure as"
"country music flavor. In 1974, Haley's original Decca recording of ""Rock Around the Clock"" hit the American sales charts once again, thanks to its use in the film ""American Graffiti"" and the television program ""Happy Days"". In February 1976, Haley's saxophone player and best friend, Rudy Pompilli, died of cancer after a nearly 20-year career with the Comets. Haley continued to tour for the next year with a succession of new sax players, but his popularity was waning again, and his 1976 performance in London was critically lambasted in the music media, such as ""Melody Maker"". That year, the group"
"in 1958, The Treniers on Okeh 7023, Truck Stop in 1973, Omar Lamparter, The Original Band, The Danish Sharks, The Jodimars in 1955 for Capitol which was unissued, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra in 2000. Cedrone returned to work with Haley's group in 1954, by which time it had been renamed The Comets. He played a key role in the band's first recording session for Decca Records on April 12, 1954 when they recorded ""Rock Around the Clock"" in New York City. According to the book ""Rock Around the Clock"" by Jim Dawson, Cedrone had been unable to attend the"
"cropped for widescreen. Rock Around the Clock (film) Rock Around the Clock is the title of a 1956 musical film that featured Bill Haley and His Comets along with Alan Freed, the Platters, Tony Martinez and His Band and Freddie Bell and His Bellboys. It was produced by B-movie king Sam Katzman (who would produce several Elvis Presley films in the 1960s) and directed by Fred F. Sears. The film was shot over a short period of time in January 1956 and released in March 1956 to capitalize on Haley's success and the popularity of his multimillion-selling recording ""Rock Around"
"in 1960. He may also have recorded with the Tyrones. The band's music was used in the soundtracks of the films The Iron Giant and ""Pink Flamingos"". The Tyrones The Tyrones were an American rock and roll group, formed in Philadelphia in the 1950s. The group was run by Tyrone DeNittis and featured George Lesser. Their hit songs included ""Blast Off"" and ""I'm Shook"", and they appeared singing ""Blast Off"" in the film ""Let's Rock"". Sponsored in part by Bill Haley, the Tyrones recorded a number of Haley/Comets-written songs. It is also believed that several Comets including Frank Beecher took"
"& His Comets, Little Richard, and The Treniers. He sang the title song, which he also recorded as a single. In 1957 he resumed his shuttling from one record label to another, going to ABC, MGM, and United Artists. In 1958, while in a nightclub in New York, Dale was attacked, suffering cuts and a serious hand injury when he crashed into a plate glass window after having fallen down a set of stairs. Dale recovered from his injuries, but the assailant who knocked him down the stairs was never identified. At the end of the 1950s, Dale found television"
"to play a more basic style than I was used to, more country really, they called it rockabilly."" At the time Beecher began working for Haley's group, Haley did not employ a full-time lead guitarist who would also play on live shows and TV appearances (such duties were usually handled by Haley himself or steel guitarist Billy Williamson). In August 1955, Beecher appeared for the first time on national TV with the Comets performing ""Rock Around the Clock"", and soon afterward was promoted to a full-time member of the band, appearing with the group in the films ""Rock Around the"
"as ""Rudy's Rock"". Grande was one of the musicians involved in the classic 1954 recording of ""Rock Around the Clock"". He also appeared with the band in most of their motion picture appearances, including ""Rock Around the Clock"" and ""Don't Knock the Rock"". He left the group in either late 1962 or early 1963 (accounts differ), following a tour of Germany. In 1987, he reunited with several other members of the 1954-55 Comets and he continued to tour the world, perform and record with the group for the next twenty years. In the spring of 2006 the onset of ill"
"Pingatore, and ""Viagra Rock"" with Warren Farren. Marshall Lytle Marshall Lytle (September 1, 1933 – May 25, 2013) was an American rock and roll bassist, best known for his work with the groups Bill Haley & His Comets and The Jodimars in the 1950s. He played upright slap bass on the iconic 1950s rock and roll records ""Crazy Man, Crazy"", ""Shake, Rattle and Roll"", and ""Rock Around the Clock"". Born in Old Fort, North Carolina, Lytle was a guitar player before joining Bill Haley's country music group, The Saddlemen, in 1951. But Lytle was hired to play double bass for"
"Franny Beecher Francis Beecher (September 29, 1921 – February 24, 2014) was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos combining elements of country music and jazz. He composed the classics ""Blue Comet Blues"", ""Goofin' Around"", ""Week End"", and ""Shaky"" when he was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley and the Comets. He continued to perform with surviving members of the Comets into 2006. In 2012, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Beecher as a member of the Comets by a special committee, aimed"
"by Baltimore-based piano player Joey Welz, who played piano for the Comets from 1962 to 1965) that appeared on ""The Tomorrow Show"", and another run by an Elvis Presley impersonator, Joey Rand (this group later lost a legal action over the right to use the Comets name). Only one group was sent out to perform by Haley himself and his management and production company, consisting of musicians who had played with Haley throughout the 1960s and 1970s—lead guitarist ""Nick Masters"" (Mathias Nicholas Nastos), bassist Ray Cawley, singer Ray ""Pudge"" Parsons, and drummer Buddy Dee—and who had continued to perform as"