| Revision as of 04:27, 16 September 2004 editOrtolan88 (talk | contribs)10,369 edits incompletely bowdlerized, nice job, previous contributor 23skidoo← Previous edit | Revision as of 08:43, 26 September 2004 edit undo23skidoo (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users38,419 edits Turner and Haley never recorded Shake Rattle and Roll together, unfortunately.Next edit → | ||
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| Although several members of the Comets became famous, Bill Haley was the star. With his spit curl and the band all in plaid dinner jackets jumping all over the place, they were as revolutionary in their time as ever the ] or the ] were. | Although several members of the Comets became famous, Bill Haley was the star. With his spit curl and the band all in plaid dinner jackets jumping all over the place, they were as revolutionary in their time as ever the ] or the ] were. | ||
| Haley began his rock and roll career with a cover of "]" in ] which sold well and was followed up with a Haley original "Crazy Man Crazy", a phrase he said he heard from his teenaged audience. His biggest hit, and one of the most important records in rock and roll history was "]", released in ], which started slow but eventually sold an estimated 25 million copies and marked the arrival of a cultural shift. | Haley began his rock and roll career with a cover of "]" in ] which sold well and was followed up a cover of a 1940s ] song called "]" in ] and in ] with a Haley original "Crazy Man Crazy", a phrase he said he heard from his teenaged audience. His biggest hit, and one of the most important records in rock and roll history was "]", released in ], which started slow but eventually sold an estimated 25 million copies and marked the arrival of a cultural shift. | ||
| The original members of the Comets when the band (formerly known as the ] received its new name in ] were ] (]/]), ] (]) and ] (]). Later, he added ] on ] and ] (aka Dick Richards) on ]. Along with session musicians ] on ] and ] on drums (standing in for Boccelli), this was the group that recorded "]". | The original members of the Comets when the band (formerly known as the ] received its new name in ] were ] (]/]), ] (]) and ] (]). Later, he added ] on ] and ] (aka Dick Richards) on ]. Along with session musicians ] on ] and ] on drums (standing in for Boccelli), this was the group that recorded "]". | ||
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| In 1955, Lytle, Richards and Ambrose quit the Comets in a salary dispute and formed their own group, the ]. Haley hired several new musicians to take their place: ] on sax, ] on double bass and ] on drums, as well as ] aka Franny Beecher on electric guitar. This version of the band became even more popular, and appeared in several ] over the next few years. | In 1955, Lytle, Richards and Ambrose quit the Comets in a salary dispute and formed their own group, the ]. Haley hired several new musicians to take their place: ] on sax, ] on double bass and ] on drums, as well as ] aka Franny Beecher on electric guitar. This version of the band became even more popular, and appeared in several ] over the next few years. | ||
| Other hits enjoyed by the band included R&B covers of "See You Later Alligator" in which Haley's frantic delivery contrasted with the Louisiana langour of the original by ]. Furthermore, Haley's cover of "]" was a completely new performance built out of incompletely ] |
Other hits enjoyed by the band included R&B covers of "See You Later Alligator" in which Haley's frantic delivery contrasted with the Louisiana langour of the original by ]. Furthermore, Haley's cover of "]" was a completely new performance built out of incompletely ]d bits and pieces of the original by ]. The difference between the two illustrates the difference between ] and ]. Many more people heard Joe Turner's version because Haley covered it. When ] recorded the song in ], he combined Haley's arrangement with Turner's original lyrics but failed to score a subtantial hit. | ||
| In the ], '''Bill Haley y sus cometas''' had continued popularity in ] and ], selling many recordings of Spanish and Spanish flavored material and live performances |
In the ], '''Bill Haley y sus cometas''' had continued popularity in ] and ], selling many recordings of Spanish and Spanish flavored material and simulated live performances (] audience over studio recordings). They even hosted a TV series entitled ''Orfeon a Go-Go''. In 1966, the Comets (without Bill Haley) cut a Mexican album with Big Joe Turner, who had always been an idol to Haley; unfortunately, no joint performance of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was recorded. | ||
| More than 100 musicians performed with Bill Haley & His Comets between 1952 and Haley's death in 1981, many becoming fan favorites along the way. | More than 100 musicians performed with Bill Haley & His Comets between 1952 and Haley's death in 1981, many becoming fan favorites along the way. | ||
Revision as of 08:43, 26 September 2004
Bill Haley and his Comets was a rock and roll band of the 50s led by guitarist Bill Haley, one of the earliest groups of white musicians to record rock and roll bring it to the attention of white America and the rest of the world. Haley was a country performer who converted to rock and roll almost before there was such a thing.
Although several members of the Comets became famous, Bill Haley was the star. With his spit curl and the band all in plaid dinner jackets jumping all over the place, they were as revolutionary in their time as ever the Beatles or the Rolling Stones were.
Haley began his rock and roll career with a cover of "Rocket 88" in 1951 which sold well and was followed up a cover of a 1940s rhythm and blues song called "Rock the Joint" in 1952 and in 1953 with a Haley original "Crazy Man Crazy", a phrase he said he heard from his teenaged audience. His biggest hit, and one of the most important records in rock and roll history was "Rock Around the Clock", released in 1954, which started slow but eventually sold an estimated 25 million copies and marked the arrival of a cultural shift.
The original members of the Comets when the band (formerly known as the Saddlemen received its new name in 1952 were Johnny Grande (piano/accordion), Billy Williamson (steel guitar) and Marshall Lytle (string bass). Later, he added Joey Ambrose on tenor sax and Dick Boccelli (aka Dick Richards) on drums. Along with session musicians Danny Cedrone on electric guitar and Billy Gussak on drums (standing in for Boccelli), this was the group that recorded "Rock Around the Clock".
Ambrose's acrobatic saxophone playing, along with Lytle on the double bass--literally on it, riding it like a pony, and holding it over his head--were highlights of the band's live performances. Their music and their act were part of a tradition in jazz and rhythm and blues, but it all came like a thunderclap to most of their audience.
In 1955, Lytle, Richards and Ambrose quit the Comets in a salary dispute and formed their own group, the Jodimars. Haley hired several new musicians to take their place: Rudy Pompilli on sax, Al Rex on double bass and Ralph Jones on drums, as well as Frank Beecher aka Franny Beecher on electric guitar. This version of the band became even more popular, and appeared in several motion pictures over the next few years.
Other hits enjoyed by the band included R&B covers of "See You Later Alligator" in which Haley's frantic delivery contrasted with the Louisiana langour of the original by Bobby Charles. Furthermore, Haley's cover of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was a completely new performance built out of incompletely bowdlerized bits and pieces of the original by Big Joe Turner. The difference between the two illustrates the difference between rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Many more people heard Joe Turner's version because Haley covered it. When Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1956, he combined Haley's arrangement with Turner's original lyrics but failed to score a subtantial hit.
In the 60s, Bill Haley y sus cometas had continued popularity in Mexico and Latin America, selling many recordings of Spanish and Spanish flavored material and simulated live performances (overdubbed audience over studio recordings). They even hosted a TV series entitled Orfeon a Go-Go. In 1966, the Comets (without Bill Haley) cut a Mexican album with Big Joe Turner, who had always been an idol to Haley; unfortunately, no joint performance of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was recorded.
More than 100 musicians performed with Bill Haley & His Comets between 1952 and Haley's death in 1981, many becoming fan favorites along the way.
The Original Comets, who performed with Haley in 1954-1955, are still touring the world as of 2004, packing showrooms in the United States and Europe. Two additional groups also claim the name Bill Haley's Comets: one featuring Haley's 1965-68 drummer John "Bam-Bam" Lane, the other run by his 1959-69 bass player, Al Rappa.
External links
- Exhaustive biography of Bill Haley.
- http://originalcomets.org/
- Exhaustive list of Comets musicians
- Bill Haley Central Web Portal