Biografía de Bill Haley

Bill Haley (Highland Park, Detroit, Estados Unidos, 6 de julio de 1925 - Texas, Estados Unidos, 9 de febrero de 1981), cuyo nombre completo era William John Clifton Haley (pronunciado IPA:[ˈheɪliː], aprox. hey-lii) fue un músico estadounidense, uno de los fundadores del rock and roll, considerado el padre del rock and roll.
Estilo y Origen del Rock 'n' Roll

Hay quienes datan el origen del rock and roll en 1954, con el trabajo discográfico de Bill Haley y su grupo "Bill Haley and his Comets", evolucionando desde el country y el rockabilly, así como desde el rhythm and blues, especialmente con Crazy Man Crazy (1954) y su gran éxito Rock Around the Clock (1955), una reinterpretación del clásico de Jimmy Myers y Max Freedman, y que ya había sido grabado en 1952 por Sunny Dae & His Nights.

A diferencia de la mayoría de las grandes estrellas del rock and roll, Bill Haley realizó importantes giras por América Latina que tuvieron una gran influencia en la difusión del nuevo estilo. En 1958 debutó en Buenos Aires (Argentina), en 1960 en Ciudad de México (Teatro Follies) y en noviembre de ese año en Chile, tocando el 17 de Noviembre de 1960 en la actual Casa del Deporte de Chillán1 ; y en 1961 en Bogotá (Colombia), donde fue todo un éxito. Un año después también se presentaría en el centro nocturno llamado "La Gruta Azul" del Hotel Tampico, en ese puerto mexicano. A Tampico regresó en el año de 1966 con el fin de dar un concierto de beneficencia que se llevó a cabo en el estadio de futbol para recaudar fondos para los afectados de una gran inundación a causa del ciclón "Inez".

Grabó varios discos en español durante su estancia en México, con los que comenzó a promover un nuevo ritmo que finalmente desplazaría al Rock & Roll, el Twist, estilo musical que entró pisando fuerte en 1962. Entre sus discos de Twist se encuentran La Paloma, Florida Twist y "Tampico Twist". El Twist, vino a marcar el fin de la era del Rock & Roll original e inalterado (1955 a 1961). En 1964 el grupo británico los Beatles (más la gran ola inglesa que les siguió), vino a desplazar al Twist, o sea que el Twist reinó únicamente por dos años.

El gran mérito de Bill Haley & His Comets2 es que comenzaron a tocar música de rock unos tres años antes que Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul Anka, Ritchie Valens, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley o The Platters. Resulta difícil determinar quien fue el "Padre" o fundador del Rock & Roll, lo que si se puede asegurar, es que Bill Haley y su banda fueron auténticos pioneros del género. Uno de sus temas más conocidos (aunque no compuesto por ellos) es "Rock Around The Clock". Falleció a causa de un tumor cerebral el 9 de febrero de 1981.
Discografía Sencillos

Haley, Bill & 4 Aces Western Swing Ago-48 Too Many Parties, Too Many Pals
Haley, Bill & 4 Aces Western Swing Mar-49 Candy Kisses (v1)
Haley, Bill & 4 Aces Western Swing Sep-49 The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along
Haley, Bill & 4 Aces Western Swing Sep-49 Yodel Your Blues Away
Haley, Bill & 4 Aces Western Swing Feb-50 Behind the Eight Ball
Haley, Bill Mar-50 Stand Up And Be Counted
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Abr-50 Deal Me A Hand (I Play The Game Anyway)
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Abr-50 Susan Van Dusan
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Oct-50 Why Do I Cry Over You?
Haley, Bill Nov-50 My Sweet Little Girl From Nevada
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Jul-51 Rocket "88"
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Sep-51 Green Tree Boogie
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Dic-51 I'm Crying
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Dic-51 A Year Ago This Christmas
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Feb-52 Juke Box Cannon Ball
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Abr-52 Icy Heart
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Abr-52 Rock The Joint (v1)
Haley, Bill & The Saddle Men Jun-52 Dance With The Dolly
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Sep-52 Stop Beatin' Round The Mulberry Bush
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Sep-52 Real Rock Drive
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Abr-53 Crazy Man Crazy
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Jun-53 Pat-A-Cake
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Ago-53 Live It Up
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Ago-53 Farewell, So Long, Goodbye [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Dic-53 I'll Be True
Haley, Bill & His Comets Dic-53 Ten Little Indians [UK single]
Haley, Bill & Haley's Comets Mar-54 Chattanooga Choo-Choo
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-54 Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town)
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-54 (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jul-54 Shake Rattle And Roll
Haley, Bill & His Comets Nov-54 Dim, Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Nov-54 Happy Baby [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Feb-55 Mambo Rock
Haley, Bill & His Comets Feb-55 Birth of the Boogie
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jul-55 Razzle Dazzle
Haley, Bill & His Comets Oct-55 Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
Haley, Bill & His Comets Oct-55 Burn That Candle
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ene-56 See You Later, Alligator
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-56 The Saints Rock 'N' Roll
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-56 R-O-C-K
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jun-56 Hot Dog Buddy Buddy
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jun-56 Rockin' Through The Rye
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-56 Rip It Up
Haley, Bill & His Comets Oct-56 Rudy's Rock
Haley, Bill & His Comets Dic-56 Don't Knock The Rock
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-57 Forty Cups Of Coffee
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-57 Hook, Line And Sinker [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-57 (You Hit The Wrong Note) Billy Goat
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-57 The Dipsey Doodle
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-57 Miss You [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Oct-57 Rock The Joint
Haley, Bill & His Comets Dic-57 Mary, Mary Lou
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-58 Skinny Minnie
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jul-58 Lean Jean
Haley, Bill & His Comets Sep-58 Chiquita Linda (Un Poquito De Tu Amor?)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Sep-58 Whoa Mabel! [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Nov-58 Corrine, Corrina
Haley, Bill & His Comets Feb-59 Charmaine
Haley, Bill & His Comets Feb-59 I Got A Woman [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-59 (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jun-59 Caldonia
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jun-59 Shaky (inst.) [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-59 Ooh ! Look-A-There, Ain't She Pretty
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-59 Joey's Song [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Dic-59 Skokiaan (South African Song) (instr.)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Dic-59 Puerto Rican Peddlar (instr.) [UK single]
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ene-60 Candy Kisses
Haley, Bill & His Comets Abr-60 (Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music! (instr.)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Abr-60 Chick Safari
Haley, Bill & His Comets Abr-60 (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock v2
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jul-60 Let The Good Times Roll, Creole
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jun-61 Flip, Flop And Fly
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-61 Spanish Twist
Haley, Bill & His Comets Oct-61 Riviera (instr.)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-63 White Parrakeet
Haley, Bill & His Comets Abr-63 Tenor Man
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ago-63 Dance Around The Clock
Haley, Bill & His Comets Oct-63 Tandy
Haley, Bill & His Comets Mar-64 Yakety Sax
Haley, Bill & His Comets Abr-64 ABC Boogie (v2)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Jul-64 The Green Door
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-65 Burn That Candle (v2)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Sep-65 Tongue-Tied Tony
Haley, Bill & His Comets Ene-69 That's How I Got To Memphis
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-70 Rock Around The Clock [live]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-70 Shake, Rattle And Roll [live]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-70 See You Later, Alligator [live]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-70 The Saints Rock 'n' Roll [live]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-70 Razzle Dazzle [live]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-70 Crazy Man Crazy [live]
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-71 Travelling Band
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-71 Me And Bobby McGee
Haley, Bill & His Comets May-79 Hail, Hail Rock 'n' Roll (v1)
Haley, Bill & His Comets Nov-79 Everyone Can Rock and Roll
Haley, Bill & His Comets Feb-81 Haley's Golden Medley
Haley, Bill & His Comets Feb-81 God Bless Rock 'n' Roll
Haley, Bill & His Comets 1988 Shake, Rattle and Roll (overdubbed)
Haley, Bill & the Joey Welz Studio Band Abr-90 Football Rock 'n' Roll (overdubbed)

Lista de hits:
Año Single Posición
US US
R&B UK
1953 "Crazy, Man, Crazy" 12 — —
1954 "Shake, Rattle And Roll" 7 — 4
"Dim, Dim The Lights" 11 10 —
1955 "Rock Around The Clock" 1 3 1
"Mambo Rock" 18 — 14
"Birth Of The Boogie" 17 — —
"Burn That Candle" 9 9 —
"Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" 23 — 4
1956 "See You Later, Aligator" 6 7 7
"R-O-C-K" 16 15 —
"The Saints Rock 'n' Roll" 18 — 5
"Hot Dog Buddy Buddy" 60 — —
"Rockin' Through The Rye" 78 — 3
"Rip It Up" 25 — 4
"Teenager's Mother" 68 — —
"Rock Around The Clock" — — 5
"Razzle-Dazzle" 15 — 13
"Rudy's Rock" 34 — 26
1957 "Rock The Joint" — — 20
"Don't Knock The Rock" — — 7
"Forty Cups Of Coffee" 70 — —
"Billy Goat" 60 — —
1958 "Skinny Minnie" 22 — —
"Lean Jean" 67 — —
1959 "Joey's Song" 46 — —
1960 "Skokiaan" 70 — —
"Tamiami" 101 — —
1968 "Rock Around The Clock" 118 — 20
1974 "Rock Around The Clock" 39 — 12
"See You Later, Alligator" — — 52
1981 "Haley's Golden Medley" — — 50
"—" significa que no entró en las listas de éxitos

Fuente: jahd a través de Musica.com