Franny beecher benny goodman

Franny Beecher, guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1955 to 1962, has died. He was 92.

The rock pioneer died in his sleep Monday at a nursing home outside Philadelphia.

Haley and his band played a pivotal role in rock history, starting with one of the era's stage-setting hits, 1955's Rock Around the Clock.

Glenn miller

Formerly a jazz guitarist for Benny Goodman and Buddy Greco, Beecher joined Haley's group in late 1954, after that iconic tune was recorded with Philly session player Danny Cedrone. Beecher played Clock thereafter, on records, in concerts and in TV and movie appearances, including the band's August 1955 Ed Sullivan Show debut and 1956 films Rock Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Rock.

Beecher also played lead guitar on See You Later, Alligator,Don't Knock the Rock, Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie, Rudy's Rock and Skinny Minnie.

Haley's popularity faded in the 1960s and he died in 1981.

The surviving Co