Rudy's Rock is a 1956 instrumental composed by Bill Haley

Bill Haley

Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...

 and Rudy Pompilli

Rudy Pompilli

Rudy Pompilli in Chester, Pennsylvania on April 16, 1924 — died February 5, 1976) was an American musician best known for playing tenor saxophone with Bill Haley and His Comets.-Biography:...

 and released as a Decca single. The song appeared in the 1956 movie Rock Around the Clock

Rock Around the Clock (film)

Rock Around the Clock is the title of a 1956 Musical film that featured Bill Haley and His Comets along with Alan Freed, The Platters, Tony Martinez and His Band, and Freddie Bell and His Bellboys. It was produced by B-movie king Sam Katzman and directed by Fred F...

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"Rudy's Rock" was released as a Decca 78, 30085A, backed with "Blue Comet Blues" in 1956.. The single reached #34 on Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

and #38 on Cash Box. In the UK, the single reached #30 in November, 1956 and re-charted at #26 in December, 1956. "Rudy's Rock" appeared on the Decca album Rock and Roll Stage Show in 1956.

Other Versions

"Rudy's Rock" has been performed live in concert by Bill Haley's New Comets featuring Bill Turner on their 2011 European Tour, The Ballroom Kings, The Crown Vics, The Metrotones in Senigallia, Italy in 2007, Josh Joy, Rhythmically Challenged at the 2008 Redwood Coast Jazz Festival, The Gangsters, TR and The Rockets in 2008, The Jive Romeros in 2007, Franny and the Fireballs in Hamburg, Germany, and by Phil Haley and His Comments.

Personnel

• Bill Haley – rhythm guitar
• Franny Beecher – lead guitar
• Billy Williamson – steel guitar
• Johnny Grande – piano
• Al Rex – bass
• Ralph Jones – drums
• Rudy Pompilli - tenor saxophone

Sources

• John W. Haley and John von Hoëlle, Sound and Glory (Wilmington, DE: Dyne-American, 1990)
• John Swenson, Bill Haley (London: W.H. Allen, 1982)