Bill Haley and The Comets

Smithsonian Collections

Exhibition Label: Born Highland Park, Michigan; With their hit renditions of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Rock Around the Clock," Bill Haley and the Comets helped revolutionize the pop music industry in the mid-1950s by bringing rock and roll into the musical mainstream. Singer and guitarist Haley began his career performing cowboy songs and country melodies, but by the beginning of the 1950s, he and his band were exploring a new blend of popular music that fused country and western elements with those of traditional rhythm and blues. The hybrid was rock and roll, and although it did not originate with Haley, he became one of its most successful proponents. After gaining popularity with several songs, including their cover of Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll," Bill Haley and the Comets struck top-ten gold in 1955 when "Rock Around the Clock" became rock and roll's first international hit, thanks to its exposure in the film The Asphalt Jungle.

Artist: Mickey Pallas, 1916 - 8 Aug 1997
Sitter: Bill Haley, 6 Jul 1925 - 9 Feb 1981; Rudy Pompilli, 16 Apr 1924 - 5 Feb 1976

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image: 27.1 x 26.3 cm (10 11/16 x 10 3/8"); Sheet: 35.6 x 27.7 cm (14 x 10 7/8"); Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16")

Topic: Equipment\Sound Devices\Microphone; Interior\Performing Arts\Theatrical\Stage; Music\Musical instrument\Guitar; Music\Musical instrument\Saxophone; Costume\Dress Accessory\Tie\Bowtie; Bill Haley: Male; Bill Haley: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Songwriter; Bill Haley: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Guitarist; Bill Haley: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Rock; Bill Haley: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Rock; Rudy Pompilli: Male; Rudy Pompilli: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician; Rudy Pompilli: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Horn\Saxophonist; Portrait

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