Real Greasers met at the Ace Caff on the North Circular,
As a record was put on the Juke box, the idea was to get the motorbike to Neasden, turn it, go back to Hangar Lane, turn it and get back to the Caff before the record ended. TC - Music Forum Embassy Records - cover versions of the fifties and sixties hits, solely in Woolworths stores Ready Steady Go Sixties Pop & Music TV Q Magazine www.45rpm.org.uk ww.robertsradio.co.uk
www.pc.don.com Music of Your Life |
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Hi IDF50
Thanks for your e-mail and I’m glad to see Haley featured on your site! The lineup shown in the photo is the
lineup that toured the UK in 1957 (I think that’s when the photo was taken, too). Left to right: Al Rex (bass),
Johnny Grande (accordion), Rudy Pompilli (sax), Bill Haley, Franny Beecher (guitar), Billy Williamson (steel
guitar). Blocked by Haley is drummer Ralph Jones. This particular show there was also a big band backing
them but I don’t know whose.
Sadly, of the men pictured here, only Rex and Beecher are still with us. Grande passed away in 2006, but
continued to tour with the Original Comets until a few months before his death. Beecher was also a touring
member of the Original Comets before retiring from touring in 2006, though he still performs regularly in the
Philadelphia area. I do not know what Al Rex is up to these days.
I hope this helps!
Cheers!
The first rock 'n' roll hit by a white artist, was "Rock Around The
Clock" by Bill Hayley and his Comets. This made number one in
the American Billboard charts in July 1955 and hit the number
one spot in the UK, NME chart in December 1955
NME CHART DECEMBER 1955
It is often said that Elvis changed the course of popular music.
But Bill Haley probably had equal impact. I was an habitué of
local dance halls at that time, and all the music was strict tempo
stuff, until Bill Haley burst on the scene, and Rock around the
Clock became a must for most bands. I remember being on the
dance floor with a local young lady, when the band struck up
with Rock around the Clock, and she immediately walked off,
saying I am not staying here to do a flipping war dance.
Ashlan - Music of our Lives Forum
OOOH! that has brought some memories back!
Trying to get my hair to flick out evenly on both sides and
spraying it with sugar water.
Putting my hair in to kiss curls at
night securing them with two crossed hair grips & trying not to
turn over in bed. I also went 5 miles on the bus to see Bill
Hayley's rock around the clock aged 12 I think. Was blown away
with the sound but, as I was already into Jazz that was not
surprising.JJ - Music of our Lives Forum
www.billhaley.com
|
1955 NME AWARDS
Female Danceband Vocalist
Rose Brennan
Female Singer
Doris Day
Female Singer UK
Ruby Murray
Instrumental Personality
Eddie Calvert
Large Band/Orchestra
Ted Heath
Male Danceband Vocalist
Bobbie Britton
Male Singer
Frank Sinatra
Male Singer Uk
Dickie Valentine
Most Promising Newcomer
Ronnie Scott
Vocal Group Uk
Stargazers
Vocal Personality UK
Dickie Valentine
The video clip is from a US show called Washington Square and
was broadcast in either late 1955 or early 1956. The line-up of the
Comets is the same as in the main photograph.
Towards the end of the performance, they stole the show. The
speakers suddenly began to blare out this "new" music the
teenagers were raving about, Rock Around the Clock at full
volume, and Clarence and Cynthia began to jive... and wow,
were they good! The music rattled the windows, vibrated the
floorboards, and shook years of dust down from the rafters. C &
C went round and round, jiving like mad, all the throws,
everything. Then they danced down the steps and up the isle
through the middle of the audience, then back again, and
everyone was on their feet, clapping and cheering. So was my
introduction to Rock and Roll..
Skyrunner - Music of our Lives Forum
Hey guys, did you know that Rock Around The Clock is still
rockin' even today? I do line-dancing and we have a dance
which we do to that. Lyndie16- Music of our Lives Forum
No, was too young.
My late Husband bought Rock Around the
Clock, many years later, he was a real rocker.
Duchess - Music of our Lives Forum
Interesting stuff. I can't quite remember the first rock'n'roll songs
charting as I was only about 7 or 8 at the time.
In 60's I used to
play it with a skiffle group! Yes, with a real T chest bass!
See below (if I can upload the pic that is!) I'm on left, me mate
Mick is on right. We had a singer Chris - a Cliff Richard lookalike
who, around this time, (and very sadly - he was a great mate)
died in a car crash. Condor Music of our Lives Forum
I found this photo - Haley's in the back (the top head) -
MaggieBlue Florida - Music of our Lives Forum
What is considered the original line-up of the Comets from
1954-55 – the line-up that was involved in Rock Around the Clock
and all of that.
Left to right in front of Haley: Billy Williamson (steel guitar),
Johnny Grande (piano and accordion), Joey Ambrose (also
known as Joey d’Ambrosio) (sax), Marshall Lytle (bass) and Dick
Richards (drums).
At this time Haley did not have a full-time guitar player, using
Danny Cedrone and (after Danny’s death in the summer of 1954)
Franny Beecher as session musicians only which is why neither
of them are in the photo. Joey, Dick and Marshall left the Comets
in September 1955 to form their own group, the Jodimars, and
were replaced by Rudy Pompilli, Ralph Jones and Al Rex,
respectively.
But in 1987 they reunited with Johnny Grande and Franny
Beecher as the Original Comets and have been touring the world
ever since. Joey, Dick and Marshall continue to perform as the
Comets and regularly tour Britain and are presently one of the
highlighters at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater in
Branson, Missouri.
Alex
Rockabilly Hall of Fame Nashville, TN