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.

In this episode I talk about my amazement at the age of five hearing my first record ever, Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel." I knew that day music would be my life. This first episode, I sound a bit like an opera singer tuning up "Me me me me me" as I talk about my very early years.

It could be a bit long but I had to start somewhere.

The following episodes will cover many stories from my blog pages about my time at the legendary Pye and De Lane Lea studios with artist as diverse as The Who Jimi Hendrix (Including his death threat 3 weeks before he died) The Doors Status Quo Mungo Jerry, The Electric Light Orchestra Gary Numan (Tubeway Army) George Micheal, Strange But True: Music Industry Anecdotes. Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green, Dr Feelgood Sham 69. Hot Chocolate's Tony Wilson (The early days). Bill Haley Anthony Newley Jimmy Webb, David Carradine, Kinky Friedman Roy Orbison. Movie stars such as James Garner Lee Marvin Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Sutherland Tommy Steele and Diana Dors. I will also talk about my bizarre adventures in New York Nashville, San Francisco and Texas, plus probably the craziest of them all, my time in Louisiana's Cajun country, losing my sanity $50.0000 and two years of my life.  Also my time working with some of the best songwriters in the World.

Lastly, you may now need a broom to sweep up all the names I just dropped. 

Anyway I hope you enjoy the stories. 

All the best Kenny D