Franny beecher biography
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NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Franny Beecher, lead guitarist for Bill Haley and the Comets, which helped kick off the rock ’n’ roll era with the hit ‘‘Rock Around the Clock’’ in , has died. He was
Mr. Beecher died in his sleep Monday night at a nursing home near Philadelphia, daughter Pauline Grinstead said Tuesday.
The Comets, whose hits also included ‘‘See You Later, Alligator,’’ are credited by some music historians with having recorded the first rock song in with ‘‘Crazy Man, Crazy,’’ the group’s biography on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website says.
Mr. Beecher, born Francis Beecher in in Norristown, started playing guitar before crowds when he was 17 and continued until he was Before the Comets, he performed with Buddy Greco and Benny Goodman, Grinstead said.
‘‘My dad didn’t play music for money,’’ she said. ‘‘He was no businessman. He played music for music.’’
Although Philadelphia session musician Danny Cedrone played on the original recording of ‘‘Rock Around the Clock’’ before his death in , Mr. Beecher played the signature song for the first time on national television in and also played with the group in films.
‘‘Rock Around the Clock’’ became a hit again nearly 20 years after its release when it was included on the soundtrack of ‘‘American Graffiti.’’
The Comets
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Franny Beecher
Rock and roll musician
Franny Beecher | |
|---|---|
Beecher in | |
| Birth name | Francis Eugene Beecher |
| Also known as | Frank Beecher |
| Born | September 29, Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, () (aged&#;92) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, Rock |
| Instrument | guitar |
| Years active | s– (his death) |
Musical artist
Francis Eugene Beecher (September 29, &#; February 24, ) was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from to , and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos that incorporated elements of jazz. He composed the classics "Blue Comet Blues", "Goofin' Around", "Week End", "The Catwalk", and "Shaky" when he was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley and the Comets. He continued to perform with surviving members of the Comets into In , the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Beecher as a member of the Comets by a special committee, aimed at correcting the previous mistake of not inducting the Comets with Bill Haley.
Career
[edit]By the time Beecher became associated with Bill Haley, he had already had a lengthy career as a guitarist, having performed and recorded with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, which he joined in , at a time Goodman was experimenting with music in the bebop idiom. He also wo
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