Bill Haley And The Saddlemen

In the mid 40s Bill Haley performed with a Country & Western group the The Down Homers he left in 1946. Returning to Philadelphia Haley then formed his own band called Bill Haley & Four Aces Of Western Swing that enjoyed quite a local popularity. David L. Miller who held Holiday (9) had the earliest Saddlemen's releases on the label. By 1951 Miller launched a new label called Essex Records (3) and of course enroled the local Country & Western band and he suggested to rename the band to "Bill Haley and the Saddlemen". Along side Western Swing numbers the group started to perform and record R&B tunes such as or 5618561 and early Pop R&R as 7496958 Miller then soon repeat the suggestion that the group change their name again, this time for Bill Haley And His Comets after the Halley's Comet. Former members were Bill Haley, Al Rex, Billy Williamson and Johnny Grande Some of the other artists that played with the Saddlemen were : Al Constantine, Barney Banard, Arrett Keefer, Tex King (see here : https://www.discogs.com/Bill-Haley-Hillbilly-Haley/release/4662677#images/21888962 )