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.
The Paper Boy
Bill Haley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gather round everybody, going to tell you a story
About a little fellow, he's really very mellow
He sells the daily paper on the main street of USA
Now he's got the papers, handling his papers
Spreads a lot of sunshine
daytime or night time
Brightens up the corner on the main street of USA
Extra, extra sing and a shout it
A sharp little chap in a shoe button hat
In his spare time he rocks and rolls
Shouting with the rhythmn
You got to get with it.
Sandy hair and pug nose
turtle neck and torn clothes
Thats the little paper boy on the main street of USA
Go (X 5 )
Well extra, extra, read all about it.
Extra, extra just sing and shout it
A sharp little chap in a shoe button hat
Shouting with the rhythmn
You got to get with it
Sandy hair and pug nose
turtle neck and torn clothes
That's the little paper boy on the main street of USA
Extra, extra read all about it (X3)
Tell me just what do you read?
The Paper Boy, a song by Bill Haley, talks about a young paper boy who sells newspapers on the main street of the USA. The chorus "Extra, extra, read all about it" emphasizes the importance of the news he brings to the town. The song creates an image of a young boy spreading sunshine and brightening up the corner where he sells his papers. Through his work, he rocks and rolls and spreads happiness through his singing and shouting with the rhythm. The song highlights his physical appearance, describing him as a sharp little chap, with sandy hair, a pug nose, and wearing a turtle neck and torn clothes.
The song reflects the spirit of the 1950s when rock and roll music was emerging as a popular genre. It became a chart hit in the US and UK, reaching the top 20 in both countries. Interestingly, the song was not written by Bill Haley, who was known for writing and performing his songs. It was written by Johnnie Cook, Artie Zwirn, and Cy Jackell, who were members of Haley's band, The Comets. The songwriting team wanted to produce another hit rock and roll song after the success of Rock Around the Clock and Shake Rattle and Roll.
Line by Line Meaning
Extra, extra read all about it
Attention everyone, important news is being shared
Gather round everybody, going to tell you a story
Come together to learn about someone's life
About a little fellow, he's really very mellow
A relaxed young boy is the subject of our story
He sells the daily paper on the main street of USA
He makes a living selling newspapers on the busiest street in the country
Now he's got the papers, handling his papers
He's handling his merchandise of papers he's selling
Spreads a lot of sunshine, daytime or nighttime
He brings cheer and optimism to people at any time of the day
Brightens up the corner on the main street of USA
He adds joy and light to an otherwise bustling corner of the city
A sharp little chap in a shoe button hat
A well-dressed, stylish young boy with a fancy hat
In his spare time he rocks and rolls
He enjoys popular music and dancing in his free time
Shouting with the rhythmn. You got to get with it.
He's excitedly urging others to dance to the beat of the music
Sandy hair and pug nose, turtle neck and torn clothes
A description of the boy's physical features and clothing
Thats the little paper boy on the main street of USA
This is the boy we've been talking about who sells newspapers
Extra, extra, read all about it. Tell me just what do you read?
Asking what news is being shared, and encouraging people to stay informed
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronpatino566
Grande Bill Haley, uno de los Padres del Rock !!
@tonyelphick7297
a masterpiece
@bigdancd
Another great rocker featuring the Comets at their best!
@pedropaulofernandesdossant3825
muito bom!
@bigdancd
"B" side to See You Later, Alligator...