Bill Haley ä the man who brought rock 'n' roll into the mainstream. His song Crazy Man Crazy was the first rock 'n' roll song to break the ÊBillboardÊ Top 20 in 1953 and was followed by his evergreen We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock the first song of its kind to hit #1. His success made him an idol not only in the US but throughout the world from Canada to the UK Europe Australia Japan New Zealand and beyond. Yet Haley is often overlooked in the story of rock 'n' roll overshadowed by others who followed him from sex symbol Elvis Presley to wild man Jerry Lee Lewis and forever-young Buddy Holly.ÞBut Haley's lack of visibility was in part his own doing: he had conflicted feelings about fame was extremely private suffered chronic alcoholism and troubled relationships with multiple wives which yielded ten children who he struggled to support. Though he managed to carry on a successful touring career his demons eventually eroded his health and in 1981 at the age of only 55 he passed away.ÞThis book is written by esteemed biographer Peter Benjaminson and Bill Haley Jr. Haley's son a musician himself who tours the world paying tribute to his father's music. Culled from interviews with insiders ä from ex-wives to the Comets recorded conversations with Haley Sr. official documents diaries and more this book not only charts the happenings of Haley's career but gives insight into the Haley behind the curtain and some of the other trials he faced from the dark side of the music business to ties with Mafia. Featuring a collection of rare photographs this book is a must-have for any serious rock 'n' roll fan.

Picture book for ages 8 and up. Having learned from Mama that the world is filled with things that do what they please like the moon and the cat, eight-year-old Tess wonders why she and Mama are constantly told what to do. They are told when to play, when to eat, and even when to sleep. Mama gently explains that they are slaves and are told what to do because they are owned by the couple in the big house whose fields they work. But Tess realizes that a person can never truly be owned. The master cannot control her mind or her heart. This is a tender story that tells of the heartbreak of slavery and one little girl's powerful plea for freedom.