George's original Bill Haley 45

Bill Haley was born William John Cliffton Haley in Highland Park, Mi. July
6, 1925. His father played banjo & his mother was classically trained at the
piano. Bill & his family moved to Chester, Pa. In 1946 Bill Haley recorded
with Cowboy Records & started working with Jack Howard. Jack was a friend to
George's parents Arthur & Madeline Manney. In 1952 Bill changed the name of
his band from Bill Haley & The Saddlemen to Bill Haley & The Comets. Bill &
the Comets would be playing their style of Rock n' Roll for teenagers in
Philadelphia & surrounding parts of Pennsylvania & New Jersey. One time
George's parents took young George along to see Bill & the Comets in
Pennsaukin N.J. In fact one time Bill had Madeline Manney come up on stage &
sing with Bill & the band. 1953 saw the release of the Top 20 hit "Crazy Man
Crazy". On April 12, 1954 Bill & the band went to New York City to record
"Rock Around The Clock" at Pythian Temple Studio (a converted ballroom).
Twelve months later it would become the "50's" teenage anthem!

1955 saw the release of the movie "Balckboard Jungle" that broke nation wide
with teenagers here in the US & in England. In the movie was the hit single
"Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets. This movie & that single
broke like wild fire with teenagers every where that year!

Later in 1958 Bill Haley had a local record label in Philly called "Clymax"
records. He wrote some songs for Philadelphia local gal, Sally Starr (see
our Sally Starr link) for the E.P.: "Our Gal Sal", Clymax Records #1001-2-3.

So is the little tale of local Rock n' Roll legend, Bill Haley.

Rare Philadelphia pressing

 Recorded in Philadelphia w/ Jack Howard, a good friend of the Manney family. It was released on the ARZEE  label. Yodel Your Blues Away was written by: Bill Haley & Jack Howard

Bill Haley L.P. cover

Bill Haley live b&W shot