Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation. According to biographer John Swenson, Haley later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye. The spit-curl caught on as a 50's style signature, although Haley and others had worn the hairstyle much earlier.
In 1946, Haley joined his first professional group, a Pennsylvania-based western swing band called The Down Homers run by Kenny Roberts. It has often been reported in musical reference works that Haley's first professional recordings were made with the Down Homers on a pair of singles released in 1946 by Vogue Records. This was later debunked by Roberts and others, stating Haley had already left the group by the time the singles were made. In the early 2000s, however, a set of 1946 radio recordings by the Down Homers were discovered and Haley is definitely present as he is identified by name and sings a solo number "She Taught Me to Yodel"; these recordings were commercially released for the first time in 2006.
After gaining experience with the Down Homers, Haley set out on his own, forming several groups such as the Range Drifters and the Four Aces of Western Swing. With the Four Aces, he made a number of regionally successful country music singles in the late 1940s for Cowboy Records while working as a touring musician and later a radio DJ at WPWA. (Many of Haley's early recordings from this period would not be released until after his death.) After disbanding the Four Aces and briefly trying a solo career using the names Jack Haley and Johnny Clifton (as chronicled in the biography Sound and Glory), Haley formed a new group called The Saddlemen in either 1949 or 1950 (sources vary as to the exact year); this new group recorded for several labels, including one single for Atlantic Records, Haley's first exposure to a major national record company. In 1951, Haley was signed to Dave Miller's Philadelphia-based Holiday Records and began to change musical styles, recording cover versions of "Rocket "88"" (previously recorded by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats), and in, 1952, "Rock the Joint", previously recorded by several bands including Jimmy Preston and His Prestonians. (By the time of "Rock the Joint", Haley had graduated from Holiday Records to Miller's larger Essex label.) The relative success of these recordings (both sold in the 75,000-100,000 copy range in the Pennsylvania-New England region) convinced Haley that his new and as-yet officially unnamed hybrid of country and rhythm and blues could be a commercial success.and some of his family lives in oklahoma and there is a road named after his family.
Personality
Bill Haley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
"The madam has the cutest personality"
And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
She had a well-developed personality
(Or Figaro in Figarette?)
(Or Jupiter in Juno?)
You know!
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality
(A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well)
(And never sit on the boss's left knee)
(Unless she's got a perfect personality)
(A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair)
(Or even just a bit bowed at the knee)
(If she can show a faultless personality)
Why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
(That's right!)
(So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart"
(Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be")
Just tell me how you like my
Rufff!!
(Personality)
Baby, you've got the cutest
Personality!!
The lyrics of Bill Haley's "Personality" are an ode to the power of personality, particularly when it comes to women. The song references famous historical figures who were renowned for their personalities, such as Madame Pompadour and Du Barry, and suggests that their charm and wit, rather than their looks alone, were what made them so appealing. The lyrics continue to reinforce the idea that personality is the key to success, whether that be in the workplace or in love. Women are advised to focus on their personalities, rather than their looks, and are told that they can achieve anything if they have a faultless personality.
The song can be interpreted as a reflection of the changing social norms of the time. In the 1950s, women were increasingly entering the workforce, and there was a growing emphasis on individuality and self-expression. The song suggests that a woman's success is not determined solely by her looks, but also by her personality, which was a refreshing message compared to the prevailing attitudes towards women at the time. Haley's catchy rock and roll sound also added to the rebellious and unique nature of the song, further cementing its message of individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
When Madam Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
At a dance, when Madam Pompadour was present
Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
All the men present said with certainty
"The madam has the cutest personality"
That the Madam had an attractive character
And think of all the books about Du Barry's looks
Consider all the written material about Du Barry's physical appearance
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
What caused Du Barry to be popular in Paris?
She had a well-developed personality
She had a strong, attractive character separate from her physical looks
You know!
You understand what I'm trying to say
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
When Salome danced and had the boys captivated
No doubt it must have been easy to see
It was probably very evident
That she knew how to use her personality
That Salome was able to use her attractive character to her advantage
A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well
A woman can learn to be a good secretary
And never sit on the boss's left knee
Without crossing any lines or getting too cozy with her boss
Unless she's got a perfect personality
Unless she has a strong, attractive character that allows her to navigate the professional world gracefully
A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair
Despite not having perfect hair, a woman can still be successful
Or even just a bit bowed at the knee
Or even if she has physical imperfections
If she can show a faultless personality
As long as she has a strong, attractive character that serves her well
Why are certain girls offered certain things
Why are certain women offered certain advantages or gifts?
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
Like furs and marriage proposals?
By men who wear their spats right?
By well-dressed and proper men?
(That's right!)
(That's correct!)
So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart"
So don't say "I'm intelligent and kind-hearted"
(Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be")
(Or "I'd be a great sister")
Just tell me how you like my
Just tell me if you're attracted to my
Rufff!!
Outgoing personality!
Baby, you've got the cutest
Sweetheart, you have the most charming
Personality!!
Attractive and outgoing character!
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pauloalencar5517
O verdadeiro e único rei do Rock
@maggiemenares9429
Super me las bailo todas me encanta 👍👏👏👏👏👏😘💟🤗
@patriciacurcio9455
Love ❤️ bill haley and his music 🎶 rock and roll 🎸 forever
@magneto7930
Anytime is a great time for Bill Haley & the Comets!
@guadalupeparedes827
Me encanta esa música y me encantaba bailarla
@juanagatica4224
Me gusta la música del pasado...otros tiempos ,k afortunados fuimos,❤😅
@mariog123
Excelente álbum de Bill, están todos los éxitos!
@antonietaloyola5556
Éstos clásicos evovan mi linda juventud y los bailables de aquélla época.
@mariaelenanaranjodiaz5129
Bruno exelente colección deste pionero del Rokandoll
@gilbertodoominguezcorrea8904
Lo mejor de lo mejor gran Billy rock revival