Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Bill Haley

Role / Field:

Pioneering American rock and roll musician, famous for 'Rock Around the Clock'.

Born:

1925-07-06

Died:

1981-02-09

Century / Era:

1925s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

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.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Haley was born July 6, 1925, in Highland Park, Michigan. In 1929, the four-year-old Haley underwent an inner-ear mastoid operation which accidentally severed an optic nerve, leaving him blind in his left eye for the rest of his life. It is said that Haley adopted his trademark kiss curl over his right eye to draw attention from his left, but it also became his gimmick and added to his popularity. As a result of the effects of the Great Depression on the Detroit area, his father moved the family to Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, when Bill was seven years old. Haley's father William Albert Haley (1900–1956) was from Kentucky and played the banjo and mandolin...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Bandura — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alexander Shulgin — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering biochemist known for synthesizing and exploring over 200 psychoactive compounds.
• Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Prominent South African politician and long-serving ANC leader.
• Abigail Spencer — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• Albert Cohen (novelist) — Contemporary (Died in 1981) (1981): Greek-born Swiss novelist who wrote in French, known for his memoirs and international work.
• Albert Speer — Contemporary (Died in 1981) (1981): German architect and Nazi official, known for monumental designs and wartime ministry.
• 14th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (07-06 · Born) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• 50 Cent — Shared historical date (07-06 · Born) (1975): Iconic rapper, actor, and entrepreneur known for raw storytelling and business acumen.
• Adolf Galland — Shared historical date (02-09 · Died) (1996): German Luftwaffe general and celebrated flying ace of World War II.
• Adolph Menzel — Shared historical date (02-09 · Died) (1905): Pioneering German Realist master, celebrated for his detailed etchings and genre scenes.
• 1925 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1925
• July 6 (07-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 6
• 1981 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1981
• February 9 (02-09) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 9

Frequently Asked Questions about Bill Haley