Writing a Line; Starting an Era

 

"I sat down one night and wrote the line rock, rock, rock everybody. I was going to use the word ‘stomp’ – like rock, rock, rock and then stomp, stomp, stomp. But that didn't fit. I went from one word to another and finally came up with ‘roll.’” – Bill Haley

When Rock Around the Clock appeared as the theme song of the 1955 film “Blackboard Jungle,” it soared to the top of the American Billboard chart for eight weeks and became the unofficial starting point for the rock and roll era.  Becoming the mantra for a whole generation, Haley's little idea changed the face of music forever.

 

Quickly named the "Father of Rock and Roll" by media and the teenagers who embraced his style, rock and roll was here to stay.    Rock Around The Clock became the first million-seller in three countries – U.S., Great Britain and Germany – and Haley the first international touring rock singer.  
         Born in July of 1924, Haley intended to hang his star on country music.  A professional entertainer by age 13 he worked as a singing cowboy and formed a band called The Saddlemen.  He also worked as a disk jockey before renaming his band Bill Haley and the Comets after reading about Halley’s Comet (which actually is pronounced Hal Lee while his is Hay Lee, “But it seemed like a good fit,” he said.).

Haley had a whole series of number one hits after age 30, including Shake, Rattle and Roll, See You Later Alligator and Razzle Dazzle.  His records sold 25 million copies before his sudden death from an apparent heart attack at age 57.  

 

 He was inducted into the aptly named Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.