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Comets Remain Shooting Stars
February 2004 - By RICHARD FREEDMAN, Times-Herald staff writer -
Who could blame the original members of Bill Haley's Comets if they spent
the encore years of life sitting around a cozy fire exchanging memories of
their glorious past when "Rock Around the Clock" shook, rattled, and rolled
the nation.
After all, the ages of the surviving five musicians reads like impressive
golf scores: Joey D'Ambrosio, 69, Marshall Lytle, 70, Johnny Grande, 73,
Dick Richards, 80, and Franny Beecher, 82.
But this Fab Five is hardly resting - on their laurels or their collective
rear ends. Bill Haley's Original Comets (which they are legally tagged)
continue to play not just across the United States, but across the world.
That's the awesome staying power of "Rock Around the Clock," which gripped
the No. 1 slot in America for six months as top song in America in 1955.
It's a rock anthem that's sold more than 200 million copies, been heard in
36 motion pictures, and recorded by 500 artists in 32 languages, according
to http://www.rockabillyhall.com
And it's a song - along with other Comet tunes such as "See You Later,
Alligator" and "Burn That Candle" - that takes the elderly icons everywhere
from Greece to Mozambique to Brazil and Germany.
"It is amazing," said D'Ambrosio, the Comets' sax man since 1953. "This is
something I did when I was 19. That was 50 years ago. And I'm doing this
stuff all over again with the same guys. And I still practice almost every
day."
D'Ambrosio, a retired Las Vegas casino supervisor, picks and chooses The
Original Comets' U.S. gigs. The group plays roughly 65 shows a year,
including January 16 at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco.
"I never feel tired," D'Ambrosio said. "And I think we play as good as we
ever have. The guys are up there (in age), but there's so much energy that
goes on. People can't believe it."
None of the Comets believed it when "Rock Around the Clock" catapulted a
relatively unknown and former country band into the stratosphere. Fact is,
the song was the "B" side to "13 Women" when Haley & Co went into the studio
May 14, 1955.
"We had three hours for the recording session and spent 30 minutes on 'Rock
Around the Clock,'" D'Ambrosio said.
The Comets rehearsed "Rock Around the Clock" in Haley's basement. So much
for predicting fame.
"It was such a new thing in those days," D'Ambrosio said. "When we recorded
it, people were listening to Patti Page singing 'How Much is That Doggie in
the Window?'"
Kick-started by legendary DJ, Allen Freed, "Rock Around the Clock" would
reach national coverage from the movie TV appearances and a hit movie,
"Blackboard Jungle." Adding D'Ambrosio a year earlier didn't hurt.
"When I joined them, they had never had a saxophone player," He said. "They
were a cowboy band. They hired a drummer - Dick Richards - and myself. It
changed the sound of the band."
Soon, teens across the country were dancing to "Rock Around the Clock."
Haley and the Comets soon appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Then Milton
Berle's Texaco Theater.
"Then Blackboard Jungle came out and it became a major hit all over the
world," D'Ambrosio said. "Everywhere, it was big time. It was unbelievable."
While the band was hitting a financial gold mine earning around $50,000 a
week, Haley pocketed most of it, D'Ambrosio said. As Haley purchased luxury
automobiles from the cash windfall, he rejected the pleas of Lytle,
D'Ambrosio and Richards for a $50 a week raise over their $200 a week
salary.
Haley died of a heart attack at age 55 in 1981, and his estate receives all
"Rock" royalties. Basically, all the Comets received out of the song was
$47.50 each for the recording session.
"We got the shaft," Lytle said later.
"He did what he did and we did what we did," D'Ambrosio said. "He was the
leader of the band. He was a shy guy, but he was the boss and he let you
know it."
Still, the Comets did all the musical arranging, leaving Haley as the lead
vocalist.
"We had to come up with the arrangements, how we were going to play it,"
D'Ambrosio said. "So he didn't contribute that much, really. He did pick the
material."
The Comets went on to start a new band, the Jodimars.
"We did real well, but never had a hit," D'Ambrosio said.
Then came a guy named Elvis Presley.
"And everybody forgot about everyone else but Elvis," D'Ambrosio said.
The Jodimars disbanded and the players went their separate ways.
"Things got quiet musically. Gigs were hard to get," D'Ambrosio said. "And
in 1972, I already had three kids."
Through some connections, D'Ambrosio secured a job at Caesars Palace in
Vegas.
"I had to do something," he said.
D'Ambrosio advanced from a card dealer to management after seven years and
stayed at Caesars until his retirement in 1999.
Then D'Ambrosio got a call from the producer of a Dick Clark TV special.
They wanted the Original Comets back for a performance honoring top
musicians who hailed from Philadelphia.
"We hadn't seen each other in 30 years. Everybody was doing their own
thing," D'Ambrosio said.
When the reunited group arrived in Philly, "We walked right past each
other," D'Ambrosio recalled. "Guys change. We didn't recognize each other."
It was just like the good old days for the Original Comets when they belted
out "Rock Around the Clock."
"People were dancing in the aisles," D'Ambrosio said. "And we had thought
people would forget about us. But we were remembered by a lot of people."
Word spread that the real Comets - not any of the mock Comets doing the
circuit - were together again. And the bookings flowed.
"We started getting bigger and bigger," D'Ambrosio said. "And got more gigs
than we could handle."
And, health willing, they'll keep it going indefinitely.
"I'm 69 and in good shape," D'Ambrosio said. "I'm going to blow 'til I go."
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