Bill Haley and His Comets

Bill Haley is historically important in rock and roll in that he and his Comets provided the song Rock Around the Clock, considered the first rock and roll hit. Haley helped rock become "radio-friendly", thus allowing the genre to become a phenomenon. He and his band had a few other hits such as See You Later Alligator and Shake, Rattle and Roll. Haley was a charter member of the Hall of Fame, an obvious choice. However, the Comets were not with him. This was an unfortunate beginning of the Hall's neglect of backing groups. Many years later, however, the Comets were inducted in a special committee.