Dave Miller signed Bill Haley to his Holiday Record label in 1951. Recording the first record in the nascent genre, which was a cover of Jackie Brenston’s "Rocket 88”. This was some three years before Sam Phillips was crowned the first man that recorded a rock n roll cross over record. I am not trying take anything away from Sam Phillips, he was recording amazing artists. It's a fact the original Jackie Brenston "Rocket 88” was waxed at Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Service, it was also the first No. 1 rhythm & blues hit for Chicago-based Chess Records, but it was Dave that took the black music and made that first rock n roll cross over record. Dave Miller was also renowned as the man that turned down, “Rock Around The Clock.” Dave always denied this accusation and I believe him. An interview with Marshall Lytle the bass player with the Comets during that time also helps to confirm my belief.  KB: “Who chose the songs at Essex? Did the band have any input there?” ML: “At Essex, Bill Haley chose most of the material, and if Dave Miller had a suggestion, it was just a suggestion, he never said do this or do that, but he would come up with some songs, "Rocket 88" was one that Dave Miller came up with, but Bill chose "Rock The Joint" and all the others."  It would appear that if Bill had wanted to record “Rock Around The Clock” with Miller he would have done so. This is a fascinating insight into those early days of Bill Haley and Dave Miller's labels at that time.