Dave Miller The Only Interview About The Early Days With Bill Haley and Essex Records & The Birth of White Rock n Roll

Dave Miller The Only Interview About The Early Days With Bill Haley and Essex Records & The Birth of White Rock n Roll

Author: Kenny Denton March 4, 2026 Duration: 24:34
Kenny Dentons" There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry.
MusicHistory

In 1951, Philadelphia, PA became the home of Holiday & Essex Records, a company founded by Dave Miller. This record label gained significant recognition by the local music scene, largely thanks to its early releases featuring Bill Haley and The Comets. Dave initially transformed the band's name from the Four Aces of Western Swing to Bill Haley and the Saddlemen. Later on, he suggested changing the name to the Comets, drawing inspiration from Halley's Comet.

The same year Miller inked a deal with Bill Haley for his Holiday Records label marking the inception of a new musical genre with Haley recording the first-ever track in this emerging style.

The song was a rendition of Jackie Brenston's “Rocket 88.” Notably, this event occurred around three years prior to Sam Phillips being recognised for producing the pioneering rock 'n' roll crossover record, where a white artiste covered a track originally recorded by a black artist.


Step into the control room with Kenny Denton. His Kenny Denton's "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry is a raw, firsthand account from behind the mixing desk, starting in 1969 at the legendary Pye Studios. This isn't a polished, myth-making show; it's the unvarnished truth from a career spent orchestrating recordings for everyone from the genuinely brilliant to the entertainingly misguided. Kenny pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the studio and on the road, sharing stories of the amazing, the talented, the downright crazy, and the often deluded characters he's encountered across music and film. Each episode of this podcast feels like a late-night conversation with a seasoned insider who has seen it all, offering a unique blend of music history and personal memoir. You'll hear the chaos, the creative breakthroughs, the hilarious missteps, and the quiet moments that define a life dedicated to sound. It’s a natural fit for anyone curious about the real, unglamorous, and utterly human side of making art. Tune in for tales where technical expertise meets wild anecdote, all delivered with the wit and wisdom of someone who knows the only real rule is that there aren't any.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 67

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Kenny Dentons" There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry.
Podcast Episodes
The Birth of my first band, the Uniques in 1964 and the Rock Illusion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:52
This Deep Dive review is from Kenny Denton’s memoir, which chronicles his early fascination with rock 'n' roll and his determination to form a band during the 1960s. Inspired by icons like The Beatles, a young Denton acq…

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