Died On This Date (February 9, 1981) Bill Haley / Rock and Roll Pioneer
themusicsover Bill Haley
July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981
Bill Haley was a popular rockabilly band leader who came to be known as the Father of Rock ‘n Roll thanks, in part, to his “Rock Around the Clock” record of 1954. Haley was just 13 when he got his first professional gig entertaining at a local auction in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1951, he formed a band with whom he’d soon come to be known as Bill Haley & His Comets. Two years later, their “Crazy Man, Crazy” became the first rock ‘n roll song to crack the Billboard singles chart where it peaked at #15. In April of 1954, Haley released “Rock Around the Clock” to little fanfare. His next single, a cover of Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” sold over a million copies and became the first rock ‘n roll song to crack the British charts. In 1955, the all-but-forgotten “Rock Around the Clock” appeared in the credits for the groundbreaking film, Blackboard Jungle. In a matter of weeks, the song sat at the top of the U.S. singles chart. The song found a new audience with the nostalgia fueled youth of the 1970s thanks to prominent placement in the American Graffiti film and Happy Days television series. Haley remained active on the road well into the ‘7os, but in the spring of 1980, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Bill Haley was 55 when he died in his home on February 9, 1981. Cause of death was listed as heart failure, but the brain tumor likely played a role.
What You Should Own
The Cuban born Cachaito Lopez was a highly regarded bassist who is best remembered for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club during the late ’90s. He was featured in Wim Wenders’ award-winning 1999 documentary about the group. Lopez was considered one of Cuba’s greatest bassists and had a career that spanned some 60 years. In 2001, he released his only solo album, Cachaito. Cachaito Lopez passed away due to complications from prostate surgery on February 9, 2009. He was 76 years old.
Percy Faith was a Canadian composer and band leader who has been called “The Father of Easy Listening.” His compositions, many for film soundtracks, were very popular during the ’50s and ’60s, with many becoming standards in later years. Faith also worked as an arranger for the likes of Tony Bennett and Doris Day. Over the course of his career, Faith released over 80 albums. His popular recordings during that time included “Song From The Moulin Rouge,” and the 1961 Grammy-winning “Theme From A Summer Place.” Percy Faith was 76 when died of cancer on February 9, 1976.
