Bill Haley

William John Clifton Haley (; July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was an American rock and roll musician. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-selling hits such as "Rock Around the Clock", "See You Later, Alligator", "Shake, Rattle and Roll", "Rocket 88", "Skinny Minnie", and "Razzle Dazzle". Haley has sold over 60 million records worldwide. In 1987, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 6, 1925 (Detroit), Died February 9, 1981 (Harlingen)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1954 - 1964

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, guitar, vocalist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 86163 4/12/1954 (We're gonna) Rock around the clock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 86164 4/12/1954 Thirteen women (and only one man in town) Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 86380 6/7/1954 Shake, rattle and roll Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 86381 6/7/1954 A.B.C. boogie Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 86809 9/21/1954 Happy baby Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 86810 9/21/1954 Dim, dim the lights (I want some atmosphere)-1 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 87325 1/5/1955 Birth of the boogie-1 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 87326 1/5/1955 Mambo rock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 87921 5/10/1955 Two hound dogs Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 87922 5/10/1955 Razzle dazzle Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 88690 9/22/1955 R-O-C-K Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 88691 9/22/1955 Rock-a-beatin' boogie Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 88692 9/23/1955 The Saints rock 'n' roll Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 88693 9/23/1955 Burn that candle Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 88995 12/12/1955 See you later, alligator Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 88996 12/12/1955 The paper boy (on Main Street, U.S.A.) Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 89594 3/23/1956 Goofin' around Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89595 3/23/1956 Rudy's rock Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89596 3/23/1956 Hide and seek-1 Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89597 3/23/1956 Hey then, there now Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89598 3/23/1956 Tonight's the night Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89599 3/23/1956 Hook, line and sinker Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89611 3/27/1956 Blue comet blues Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89612 3/27/1956 Calling all comets Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89613 3/27/1956 Choo choo ch'boogie Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89614 3/30/1956 A rockin' little tune Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89615 3/30/1956 Hot dog buddy buddy Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 89616 3/30/1956 Rockin' through the rye Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 100316 7/12/1956 Teenager's mother Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 100317 7/12/1956 Rip it up-1 ; Rip it up-2 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 100702 10/4/1956 Don't knock the rock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 100703 10/4/1956 Forty cups of coffee Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 102039 3/22/1957 Miss you Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102040 3/22/1957 (You hit the wrong note) Billy goat Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102041 3/22/1957 Rockin' rollin' rover Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102042 3/25/1957 Please don't talk about me when I'm gone Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102043 3/25/1957 You can't stop me from dreaming Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102044 3/25/1957 I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102045 3/25/1957 Rock Lomond Comets ; Bill Haley leader, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102046 3/29/1957 Is it true what they say about Dixie? Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 102047 3/29/1957 Carolina in the morning Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 102048 3/29/1957 The dipsy doodle Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 102049 3/29/1957 Ain't misbehavin' (I'm savin' my love for you) Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 102050 3/29/1957 The beak 'speaks' Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 102160 4/3/1957 Moon over Miami Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102161 4/3/1957 One sweet letter from you Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102162 4/3/1957 (I' ll be with you in) Apple blossom time Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102163 4/3/1957 Somebody else is taking my place Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102888 7/15/1957 How many? Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102889 7/15/1957 Move it on over Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 102890 7/15/1957 Rock the joint Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 103635 11/8/1957 Me rock-a-hula Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 103636 11/8/1957 Rockin' Rita Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 103637 11/8/1957 Jamaica D.J. Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 103652 11/12/1957 Piccadilly rock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103653 11/12/1957 Pretty alouette Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103654 11/12/1957 Rockin' rollin' schnitzlebank Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103677 11/15/1957 Rockin' Matilda (Waltzing Matilda) Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103678 11/15/1957 Vive le rock and roll Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103725 11/19/1957 It's a sin Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103726 11/19/1957 Mary, Mary Lou Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103727 11/19/1957 El rocko Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103728 11/19/1957 Come rock with me Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 103733 11/21/1957 Oriental rock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader  
Decca 103734 11/21/1957 Wooden shoe rock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader  
Decca 103740 11/22/1957 Wee Willie Brown Comets ; Lou Graham leader  
Decca 103741 11/22/1957 You were mean baby Comets ; Lou Graham leader  
Decca 104284 2/6/1958 The walking beat Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 104285 2/6/1958 Skinny Minnie Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 104286 2/6/1958 Sway with me Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 104287 2/7/1958 Lean jean Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 104288 2/7/1958 Don't nobody move Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105063 6/3/1958 Joey's song (stereo) ; Joey's song (mono) Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105064 6/3/1958 Chiquita Linda (Un poquito de tu amor) Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105118 6/9/1958 Dinah Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105119 6/9/1958 Ida, sweet as apple cider Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105120 6/12/1958 Whoa Mabel! Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105121 6/12/1958 Marie Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105126 6/12/1958 Eloise Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105127 6/12/1958 Corrine, Corrina-1 ; Corrine, Corrina-2 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105174 6/18/1958 B.B. Betty Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105175 6/18/1958 Sweet Sue, just you Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 105176 6/18/1958 Charmaine Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 106322 1/7/1959 The dragon rock Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 106323 1/7/1959 A.B.C. rock-1 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 106324 1/7/1959 The cat walk (Instrumental) Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 106416 1/29/1959 I got a woman Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 106417 1/29/1959 (Now and then) There's a fool such as I Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 106418 1/29/1959 Be by me Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 106419 1/29/1959 Where did you go last night? Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 107440 4/27/1959 Caldonia-1 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 107441 4/27/1959 Shaky (instr. ) Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 107643 6/19/1959 Ooh! Look-a-there, ain't she pretty-1 Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 107644 6/19/1959 (Thanks for the) Summer souvenir Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108122 9/17/1959 Puerto Rican peddler Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108123 9/17/1959 (Put another nickel in the jukebox) Music, music, music! Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108124 9/23/1959 Skokiaan Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108125 9/23/1959 Drowsy waters Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108126 9/24/1959 Two shadows Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108127 9/24/1959 In a little Spanish town ('Twas on a night like this) Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108128 9/24/1959 Strictly instrumental Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 108129 9/24/1959 Mack the knife Comets ; Bill Haley leader, instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 114940 6/16/1964 The green door Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  
Decca 114941 6/16/1964 Yeah, she's evil! Comets ; Bill Haley vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Haley, Bill," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204189.

Haley, Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204189.

"Haley, Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204189

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