Bill Haley had had a long and varying career, running a country music radio station and playing with his Western Swing band, the Four Aces of Western Swing, and then the Saddlemen. He was well known in the profession and used to organise jamborees of C&W stars, etc. But a hit record eluded him until he released Icy Heart, which became an immediate hit.
It was a regular country number, much in the vein of Hank Williams. In fact Hank called him and congratulated him on his hit record. On the basis of the publicity Bill was booked on the Grand Old Opry and was in very high spirits.
Then suddenly, without warning, his manager cancelled the Opry date and booked him on tour.
You see, the B-side was this...
While the parents were enjoying the A-side the kids of the nation had discovered the B-side, and it was soon a major hit of its own, and started a cult.
Bill had to change his image. Away with the Stetson and the Western Wear, away with the acoustic guitar, and the band got a new name as the Comets. Very modern, and it went well with his name Haley. From then on there was no mention of his previous career. He was a teen idol, even though he was well past his teens himself.
...the rest is history.
But he still kept his Western Swing outfit, and unlike later rock-and-rollers his line up included steel guitar, saxaphone, accordion, slap bass and fiddle.
