Bill Haley and his Comets facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley and His Comets in 1956. Left to right: Rudy Pompilli, Billy Williamson, Al Rex, Bill Haley, Johnny Grande, Ralph Jones, Franny Beecher
Background information
Also known as	Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, the Kingsmen, the Lifeguards, B.H. Sees Combo
Origin	Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Rock and roll, country, rockabilly
Years active	1949–1952 as Saddlemen; 1952–1981 as Bill Haley & His Comets; 1981–present as the Comets, Bill Haley's Comets
Labels	Decca, Brunswick (UK), Atlantic, Keystone, Cowboy, Holiday, Essex, Warner Bros., Orfeón, Dimsa, Newtown, Guest Star, Logo, APT, Gone, United Artists, Roulette, Sonet, Buddah, Antic, London (UK)
Associated acts	The Jodimars
Past members	Bill Haley Johnny Grande Billy Williamson Rudy Pompilli Al Rex Franny Beecher Marshall Lytle Danny Cedrone Ralph Jones Nick Nastos John "Bam-Bam" Lane Joey Welz Ivan Hoppes and more than 100 others

Bill Haley & His Comets was a famous American rock and roll band. They started in 1952 and played music until Bill Haley passed away in 1981. People also called them Bill Haley and the Comets or Bill Haley's Comets.

This group was very popular in the mid-1950s. Between late 1954 and late 1956, they had nine songs that made it into the Top 20 music charts. One of their songs even reached number one!

Before starting the Comets, Bill Haley played country music. But after recording a country-style version of a rhythm and blues song called "Rocket 88", he decided to try a new sound. This new sound soon became known as rock and roll.

Bill Haley was the main star of the band. He had a cool spit curl hairstyle. The band members wore matching plaid jackets and were very energetic on stage. Many fans thought they were as groundbreaking as the Beatles were about ten years later.

Even after Bill Haley's death, several groups have continued to perform under the "Comets" name. They all try to keep the band's legacy alive. As of 2014, four of these groups were still playing music in the United States and other countries.

The Birth of Rock and Roll Music

Bill Haley and His Comets played a big part in making rock and roll popular. Their music helped introduce this exciting new style to the world.

From Country to Comets

Bill Haley started his music career playing country and western songs. He led a band called the Saddlemen. But he loved the energy of rhythm and blues music. He wanted to mix these styles.

In 1952, he changed his band's name to Bill Haley & His Comets. This new name showed their fresh sound. They started making music that blended country, rhythm and blues, and pop. This mix created the early sound of rock and roll.

Their Famous Song: Rock Around the Clock

One of their most famous songs is "Rock Around the Clock". It was released in 1954. This song became a huge hit and helped bring rock and roll to a wider audience. It was even featured in a movie called Blackboard Jungle. This helped the song become even more popular with young people.

Awards and Recognition

Bill Haley & His Comets received special honors for their music. Their song "Rock Around the Clock" is especially recognized.

Grammy Hall of Fame Award

"Rock Around the Clock" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. This is a special Grammy award that started in 1973. It honors recordings that are at least 25 years old. These songs must have great "qualitative or historical significance." This means they are important for their quality or for their place in music history.

Images for kids

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  BillHaley/Elvis/HankSnowTicket – Oklahoma City newspaper ad. for Sunday October 16, 1955; two shows at the Municipal Auditorium. Note: Elvis Presley's first appearance to be co-promoted (with Hank Snow) by Colonel Tom Parker.

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  Bill Haley & His Comets in 1954. Left to right: Joey D'Ambrosio, Dick Richards, Bill Haley

See also

In Spanish: Bill Haley & His Comets para niños