Dave Miller The Only Interview About The Early Days With Bill Haley and Essex Records & The Birth of White Rock n Roll
Kenny Dentons" There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry. · Kenny Denton
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Show Notes
In 1951, Philadelphia, PA became the home of Holiday & Essex Records, a company founded by Dave Miller. This record label gained significant recognition by the local music scene, largely thanks to its early releases featuring Bill Haley and The Comets. Dave initially transformed the band's name from the Four Aces of Western Swing to Bill Haley and the Saddlemen. Later on, he suggested changing the name to the Comets, drawing inspiration from Halley's Comet.
The same year Miller inked a deal with Bill Haley for his Holiday Records label marking the inception of a new musical genre with Haley recording the first-ever track in this emerging style.
The song was a rendition of Jackie Brenston's “Rocket 88.” Notably, this event occurred around three years prior to Sam Phillips being recognised for producing the pioneering rock 'n' roll crossover record, where a white artiste covered a track originally recorded by a black artist.