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.
R
Bill Haley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
R - O - C - K
Rock
Making
R - from an eight to the bar eighty-eight
O - from the told of the sax syncopated
C - fron the key of the six-strings guitar
That's how they made it
That's how they played it
R - O - C - K
Rock
I know my A's, and my B's, and my C's's
P's and my Q's and my X, W, Z's's
No, how to lose all the blue, blue, blues's
Jump in a pair of my dancin' shoes's
Take with my baby
Rock with my baby
R - O - C - K
Rock
Oh Strauss this comin' waltzes
A handy man found the blues
And here I came along with the rockin' song
Crazy man, crazy
Crazy news.
R - is all the rock, here's the band, it's a movin'
O - more than act, it's a go, go, groovin'
C - what I mean is a heart attack action
K - like a kiss is a cool attraction
Who even getcha
I'm gonna betcha
R - O - C - K
Rock
The lyrics to Bill Haley's song "R O C K" are an energetic celebration of rock and roll music and its infectious, lively nature. The repeated letters R, O, C, and K spell out the word "rock," emphasizing the central theme of the song. The lyrics describe how rock music is created and how it is enjoyed.
The first verse highlights the various elements that make up rock music. Haley sings about how R is made from the rhythm of the music, O is created through the syncopated saxophone, C is formed by the guitar's six strings, and K is derived from the kick of the rim shot (a technique on the drums). These elements come together to create the vibrant and catchy sound of rock.
In the second verse, Haley demonstrates his familiarity with music by mentioning his knowledge of various notes and letters. He states that he knows his A's, B's, C's, as well as the more unusual letters like P, Q, X, W, and Z. He also asserts that he knows how to shake off the blues by putting on his dancing shoes and rocking with his baby. This verse reflects the joyous and uplifting nature of rock music, which can help alleviate sadness and bring people together.
The final verse alludes to the changing musical landscape, contrasting the traditional waltzes of Strauss with the new and exciting rock and roll. Haley suggests that rock music has revitalized the music industry with its electrifying and unpredictable nature. The line "Crazy man, crazy, crazy news" further emphasizes the disruptive and thrilling impact of rock and roll.
Overall, the lyrics to "R O C K" celebrate the essence of rock and roll music by emphasizing its energetic rhythm, lively instrumentation, and ability to bring joy and excitement to people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
R - from an eight to the bar eighty-eight
Rhythm is created by playing eight beats in a measure
O - from the told of the sax syncopated
The saxophone adds syncopation to the music
C - fron the key of the six-strings guitar
The guitar plays chords in the key of the song
K - from the kick of the rim shot baby
The rim shot provides a rhythmic accent on the drums
That's how they made it
This is the method used to create the music
That's how they played it
This is how the musicians performed the music
R - O - C - K
The repeated letters represent the essence of rock music
Making
Describing the process of creating rock music
I know my A's, and my B's, and my C's's
I am well-versed in the fundamentals of music theory
P's and my Q's and my X, W, Z's's
I am familiar with all the letters of the alphabet, metaphorically representing musical knowledge
No, how to lose all the blue, blue, blues's
I know how to escape sadness and melancholy through music
Jump in a pair of my dancin' shoes's
Put on your dancing shoes and join the fun
Take with my baby
Enjoy the music with your loved one
Rock with my baby
Dance and have a great time with your partner
Oh Strauss this comin' waltzes
The traditional waltzes of Johann Strauss are being replaced with rock music
A handy man found the blues
A talented musician discovered and popularized blues music
And here I came along with the rockin' song
Then I arrived and introduced a song with a lively rock beat
Crazy man, crazy
The energy and excitement of rock music is incredible
Crazy news.
This is a new and exciting development in the music world
R - is all the rock, here's the band, it's a movin'
The letter R represents rock music, and the band is playing with great energy
O - more than act, it's a go, go, groovin'
Rock music goes beyond just performing, it's all about dancing and grooving
C - what I mean is a heart attack action
The music is so lively and exciting that it feels like a heart attack
K - like a kiss is a cool attraction
The rhythm of the music is as captivating as a romantic kiss
Who even getcha
Everyone is affected by the energy and charm of rock music
I'm gonna betcha
I'm confident that you'll be won over by rock music
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: VINCE MENDOZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThaiThom
It makes me nostalgic for a time I never lived in.
@robertovaldez7925
Cristian nodal
@SoulllessStary
Feel the same way it’s pretty weird but I like it ya know
@theprofessor3684
Probably heard it in a past life
@tazionuvolari8142
It makes me nostalqic on 2010
@paolaoviedo137
/vvvghffff(ffwrc
@Windows-ie6th
Hey everyone 100 years from now we’re all dead now enjoy life while you’re young !
@stealthghostbr1801
Makes sense
@ryabryab2676
thanks for making me have an existential crisis
@fiftiesonly9579
Don’t give me warnings about death I’m only 17....