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 The Steel Guitar Forum
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 Rock Around The Clock
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| Author | Topic: Rock Around The Clock |
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Travis Bolding Member From: Stroud, OK, USA |
posted 27 June 2002 10:36 PM
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I watched an old rerun of the Ed Sullivan show on PBS the other night. Featured were Bill Haley and the Comets playing "Rock Around the Clock". Lo and behold, one of the "Comets" was a steeler comping chords in the background. I've read posts on this forum from time to time about how the steel is branded a "country" instrument and needs more exposure to other types of music, etc., etc. It is debatable, but some consider Bill Haley as the father of Rock & Roll. If so, the steel guitar was in the birthing room when the event took place. WE WERE THERE !! WHAT HAPPENNED ?? |
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Jussi Huhtakangas Member From: Helsinki, Finland |
posted 28 June 2002 03:34 AM
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And you know, that Jimmy Day was a part of Elvis' band in -55 and Elvis asked Jimmy to stay with him when he signed with RCA! Jimmy decided, that he wanted to be country instead. Steel guitar definately was there, even on black r&b songs, ever heard "Whatcha Gonna Do when Your Baby Leaves You" by Chuck Willis on Atlantic? You ask what happened. The same thing, that's happening today; the narrow minded, "I know what the public wants to hear" producers! Today's rockabilly and r'n'r fans love steel guitar. |
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Vernon Hester Member From: Cayce,SC USA |
posted 28 June 2002 12:40 PM
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Bill Haley was doing "rock" in 1952 with Billy Williamson on a D8 Fender with only 5 strings on his Cth neck. we play quite a few jobs with them during 1952,1954 era. Billy would let me use his Fender Pro amp as I was using an old Rickenbacker amp with my D8 Ricky. Vern [This message was edited by Vernon Hester on 28 June 2002 at 12:41 PM.] |
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Jerry Overstreet Member From: Louisville Ky |
posted 28 June 2002 07:27 PM
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A couple or so years ago in doing some research for a friend re: a song titled Flip Flop and Fly, I came across a site that had a ton of info on Bill Haley..for instance in the 40's, he had a band called the Four Aces of Western Swing...as best as I remember, followed by a group called the Saddlemen. Some of this music was country/western, pop and big band. This was several years before "Rock". I cannot remember the URL of the place I found this info...if I do I'll post it here. I did not know much about Bill Haley, but found it very interesting that his music was so varied. I just figured he was always a rock and roller. They mentioned a steel player by the name of Shorty Cook? in the early years and several others on recordings besides B.Williamson who seems to be the best known, but I cannot remember any of the other names. Some recordings 30 or so years later I do believe listed Curly Chalker and BJ Cole among those that recorded on his records. I'm trying my best to relate this from memory so some discrepanies may exist as I am most definitely no expert on this man or his music. Just thought it was interesting. [This message was edited by Jerry Overstreet on 28 June 2002 at 07:34 PM.] |
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Smiley Roberts Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075 |
posted 29 June 2002 12:47 AM
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Jerry, "Shorty" Cook was a member of a group called, "The Down Homers",of which Haley was,also,a member of. Bill was,also,a yodeler,while in that group. ------------------ |
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Joe Miraglia Member From: Panama, New York USA |
posted 29 June 2002 12:54 PM
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Bill Haley's Comets are appearing at the Chautauqua County Fair on July 22 for the Classic Car Auto "Cruisin" Night". Has anyone heard them and how many of the original band still plays? Is there a steel player with the group? Joe |
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Jerry Overstreet Member From: Louisville Ky |
posted 29 June 2002 01:45 PM
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Joe, for more info on the Comets go here http://www.billhaley-central.com |
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Smiley Roberts Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075 |
posted 01 July 2002 02:46 PM
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Just got word from an old & dear friend up north that "Shorty" Cook,of the "Down Homers",has passed away. That only leaves 2 of the old members left. "Rusty" Rogers,& "Rocky" Coxx,whose brother was "Slim" Coxx,who,also,worked w/ the "Down Homers",while Bill Haley was a member. After "Slim" left the group,he started his own group called,"The Cowboy Caravan",of which I was a part of,back in the mid '50's.
[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 02 July 2002 at 10:38 PM.] |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 01 July 2002 10:39 PM
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There's a version of the Comets, (aka the Original Comets), which consists of members of Haley's 1950s band, mostly from the 1955-1958 line-up. It's led by Marshall Lytle who was with Haley from 1951 to 1958 and went from country to R&B with him. They've been together since 1989, and record CDs with a rather excellent Haley sound-a-like singer. Definately worth checking out if you like any old Bill Haley stuff. |
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Paul Graupp Member From: Macon Ga USA |
posted 06 July 2002 07:55 AM
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Today is Bill Haley's birthday. The year was 1925. I recall seeing the original band as they made the rounds of carnivals and fairs. What strikes me now is that we were thinking back then that this NEW music wasn't as good as our regular country and we would put it down and go some place else. Joni James and Connie Francis could be found somewhere as were Hank Williams and Lil' Jimmy Dickens. They were the CORRECT music, so to speak. So look how far we've come to get back where we started from. Same words,same melodies but different voices. And the beat goes on............ Regards, Paul |
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Larry Miller Member From: Gladeville,TN.USA |
posted 06 July 2002 07:58 AM
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"Move It On Over"........."Rock Around The Clock.....hmmmmmmm! |
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Jerry Overstreet Member From: Louisville Ky |
posted 29 July 2002 04:00 PM
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Travis, on revisiting your post, I believe that I may be responsible for sidetracking your topic. Sorry for going off on a BH and Comets tangent, when your question had more to do with the disappearance of the steel from R&R than with a particular band. Do you suppose that the addition of pedals to the steel made it sound too whiny? [for lack of a better description]. 'Cause it seems to me that steel guitar was used in a lot more styles of music [other than country] in say, the 40's and 50's than say, from the early 60's on. I'm not knocking pedals, mind you, since I play them myself, just a thought. I seem to remember that's about the time the pedal steel almost became another instrument altogether. Perhaps this had nothing at all to do with the absence of steel from a lot of R&R and big band music.. Maybe some of you guys that were THERE at the time can shed some light on this...I'd like to know also, Travis.
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Page Wood Member From: Los Angeles |
posted 29 July 2002 05:09 PM
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I was just listening to some Bob Wills where it's 4 bars of dueling fiddles, then 4 bars of steel...BOOM! like you're in downtown Vienna one second, then shootin' the curl on Oahu the next- It's amazing that marriage stuck! |
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Tony Farr Member From: Madison, Tennessee, USA |
posted 29 July 2002 06:37 PM
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Hey guys, speaking about Rock Around The Clock, I was playing a place in Madisonville, Ky. a few years back and the last song of the night was Rock Around The Clock and on the last two lines of the song, and a man fell dead in the middle of the dance floor. From then own the guitar player I was using didn't want to play the song anymore. He said it was a killer song, and it was in more ways than one. |
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Janice Brooks Moderator From: Pleasant Gap Pa |
posted 29 July 2002 07:40 PM
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Hey Ernest B? I think Dave Alvin's tribute to Bill Haley is fairly accurate ------------------ |
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Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 30 July 2002 08:53 PM
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quote: It wasn't the pedals, it was the players. The pedal steel is a GREAT rock instrument, but you can't play traditional E9 Nashville pedal licks, with or without distortion, and expect it to work. You have to alter your playing to suit the music. Playing rock music requires playing rock STYLE. |
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Smiley Roberts Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075 |
posted 31 July 2002 12:57 AM
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Mike, You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!! You have to play to suit the genre. By the same token,you can't change to a "Dobro" program,& play jazz. It just doesn't work. Someone once asked me how I get the steel to sound like an organ,(a B3 is one of my favorite instruments),or violins using a "Boss-Tone". The secret is,think "voicing", like the instruments you are trying to reproduce. ------------------
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Jim Smith Member From: Plano, TX, USA |
posted 31 July 2002 05:53 AM
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And Smiley is one of the best at both of those sounds!  Smiley, you ought to think about incorporating some of that into your St. Louis set, you'll knock 'em dead! |
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Smiley Roberts Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075 |
posted 31 July 2002 05:22 PM
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Geez Jim thanx,but don't build me up too much. I don't want them people to go away TOO disappointed. I use alot of "gadgets" & "gimmicks". Makes up for lack of talent. Ya know whut ah mean? ------------------ [This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 31 July 2002 at 10:58 PM.] |
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Doyle Weigold Member From: CColumbia City, IN, USA |
posted 31 July 2002 09:40 PM
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Shorty Cook ended up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, had a local TV show with the Downhomers years ago. Also had "Music Manor" music store on Fairfield Avn. in Fort Wayne till he passed away. I think the music store is still open, under the same name. |
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Jerry Overstreet Member From: Louisville Ky |
posted 03 August 2002 10:23 AM
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Mike, I doubt seriously that any of the Session players of the period would have been unable or unwilling to play to suit any style of music. I think these guys were mostly open-minded and motivated also to make a living by playing whatever sessions were available unlike some of us amateurs and hobbyists who have the luxury to pick and choose the style of music we care to play. I guess I was just wondering about pedals being such a novelty about this time and if the producers and artists found this "new" sound too country. I'd still like to hear from some of the pros that were involved at the time and get their perspective on this subject.
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Al Marcus Member From: Cedar Springs,MI USA |
posted 04 August 2002 08:39 AM
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Jerry Overstreet- I would like to explain some of that, as I was there, if I may. I played pedals, 6 of them, and never sounded "whiny". We used the pedals to play chords back in those days before the 2 pedal E9 tuning became popular. We played solos like a piano or organ would. Now these record producers associate the pedal steel guitar with certain country sounds and just won't allow it in any other normal musical way...I'll leave it at that for now.................al |
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Michael Johnstone Member From: Sylmar,Ca. USA |
posted 04 August 2002 12:25 PM
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In an earlier post in this thread someone mentioned steel appearing on the Chuck Willis tune "Watcha Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You".Chuck(King of The Stroll)Willis was a great soulful black R&B singer from the early 50s - a contemporary of Ray Charles and Charles Brown - who used to wear a turban and cape onstage.He's probably best known for "What Am I Livin For","(I Don't Wanna)Hang Up My Rock&Roll Shoes","I'm Tired Of Drinkin Coffee W/Two Spoons Of Tears" and "Feel So Bad".Chuck used steel on several other tunes including a fine C6 solo on the soul mambo "Ease The Pain" which I copped note-for-note on my Supro when I played that tune w/King Cotton.Anybody know who Chuck's steel player was? Sounds like he had NOTHIN to do with country music.Perhaps his bandleader/guitarist Roy Gaines or a young Freddy Roulette? -MJ- |
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Earnest Bovine Member From: Los Angeles CA USA |
posted 04 August 2002 02:07 PM
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All Music Guide says quote: A CD reissue of his Atlantic sides credits 3 guitarists (Al Caiola, Roy Gaines, and Kenny Burrell) none of whom played steel as far as I know. |
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