You Tube Gold: Rock Around The Clock

Bill Haley’s biggest hit still sounds fresh, new and innovative.

The Ed Sullivan show started on CBS in 1949 and ran through 1971. It was a 23 year run, which seems like a long time, but in TV terms, it was an epoch. During the show’s run, other shows like I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, The Andy Griffith Show and Gilligan's Island came and went.

In 1948, the Korean War raged; in 1971, the U.S. was trying to wind the Vietnam War down.

And in 1948, Bing Crosby was one of the biggest musical acts. In 1971, the Beatles had been broken up for a year.

Life changed immensely.

During those 23 years, Sullivan booked a lot of amazing acts on his variety show. One of the early rock and roll acts was Bill Haley and His Comets and one of their great first hits was Rock Around the Clock. They were actually the first rock and roll band that Sullivan ever booked, in 1955.

Haley and his Comets (get it?) played a mix of Western swing, R&B along with some country and jazz influences and came up with something that could only be called rock and roll. It wasn’t the same rock and roll that emerged from New Orleans, but it was dynamic and, much like rockabilly, got people out of their seats.

Their time in the spotlight was relatively brief but the band continued for a good while, playing oldies shows and the likes.

Sadly, Haley died in 1981 and his death was excruciating. He apparently had a brain tumor (though this is disputed by his wife) and was an alcoholic. His last days sound tormented and deeply sad.

He was just 55.

Fortunately, his music lives on and is still influential.