Crazy Man Crazy by Bill Haley Jnr and Peter Benjaminson
This is the book about legendary American rock and roll pioneer Bill Haley written by his son Bill Haley Jnr and in this book he talks about his father's life in Pennsylvania, getting his first guitar at age 13, starting performing in the 40's, performing country music what was then hillbilly music with Cousin Lee and His Boys, The Down Homers and the Range Drifters, formed the Saddlemen in 1950 which they would become Bill Haley and His Comets in 1953, having the great success in the 50's with Crazy Man Crazy, Rock Around The Clock, Shake Rattle and Roll, See You Later Alligator, Rock A Beatin Boogie, Razzle Dazzle and many others, the personal issues including his 3 marriages which included 10 children as well as problems with alcohol and many others. It's FANTASTIC, SUPERB and BRILLIANT with very entertaining and FANTASTIC stories as well as an honest look at the man who brought rock and roll into the mainstream sadly having issues and others problems and Bill Jnr tells it so well and Brilliantly tells about the man behind the image. It's been 65 years since Rock Around the Clock was recorded which still sounds great today and holds up so well and it's been 38 years since his passing but the music still lives and sounds as great too today as it did back then. Bill Haley has been forgotten somewhat in rock history but he started it and influencing many musicians like Graham Nash, Paul McCartney and others to where they are today but also acknowledge what he did like doing the very first world tour by an American rocker including the January 1957 tour of Australia and British tour in February 1957, the first to have an number 1 hit and the first to be on the Billboard charts in the top 20 which it's amazing. Bill Jr performs with his band Bill Haley Jr and the Comets which they play around America as well as the UK and New Zealand and I hope they come to Australia one day which would be great. This book is an must for 50's rock and roll fans as well as Bill Haley fans and I give it 5 stars as it's in the shops now so do yourselves an favour and BUY IT which you will be impressed.
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