Bill Haley (1925–1981) was an American musician widely credited with popularizing rock and roll globally in the early 1950s. As the frontman of Bill Haley & His Comets, he brought the energetic genre to the mainstream with iconic million-selling hits like Rock Around The Clock. Before achieving international fame, Haley started as a western swing and country musician. Recognizing a growing teenage audience, he transitioned his sound by blending hillbilly country music with rhythm and blues.His 1953 song "Crazy Man Crazy" is widely cited as the first rock and roll record to appear on the Billboard pop charts, paving the way for artists like Elvis Presley. With his signature "kiss-curl" hairstyle and energetic stage presence, Haley sold over 60 million records worldwide and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.