Bill Haley And The Roots Of Rock, 1956

This 1956 photo of me and Bill Haley was taken backstage at Vancouver’s first rock and roll concert at the Kerrisdale Arena. Bill was a wonderful and articulate man. When his music appeared on the soundtrack of The Blackboard Jungle in 1955 it changed everything. It was, without question the national anthem of rock and roll. Bill explains the influence of his unique sound on our music:

The opening act was my friend and local singer Les Vogt and the Prowlers, who rocked the joint. One of the young people in the audience on that special night was Bruce Allen, and he remembers it vividly. It was truly a night to remember.