Haley, Bill

(William John Clifton, Jr.), popular American rock 'n' roll singer, guitarist, and bandleader; b. Highland Park, Mich., July 6, 1925; d. Harlingen, Tex., Feb. 9, 1981. Haley began to play guitar as a youth, and at the age of 15 embarked on a tour with cowboy-styled groups. He soon formed his own band, the Saddlemen, which, in 1952, was renamed the Comets to broaden their appeal beyond the country audience.

Haley began covering R&B hits with his band, beginning in 1953 with his version of Crazy Man Crazy. Next came his hit version of JOE TURNER'S Shake, Rattle and Roll, which combined elements of blues, country music, and urban pop. His fame skyrocketed in 1955 with his recording of Rock Around the Clock. Immortalized in the motion picture Blackboard Jungle, it became the banner of the rising generation of wild, wide-eyed, dance-crazy, rebellious American youth. Some 22 million copies of this song were sold.

Haley's fans were surprised when they first saw him on television and in films. He was much older and less "cool" looking than his recordings sounded! Teenagers were not impressed.

But like so many musicians of the period, Haley's fame was short-lived. In 1956, a newcomer on the scene named ELVIS PRESLEY unseated Haley as the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Haley continued to perform on the "oldies circuit," but never again achieved great success on the charts.