The Who2 Blog

Birthday Twins: Merv Griffin and Bill Haley

Merv Griffin and Bill Haley were both born on this very day in 1925.  Haley was born in Michigan, Griffin in California.

Bill Haley gained super-fame earlier, thanks to “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and especially “Rock Around the Clock” in the 1950s.  He was super-famous all over again in the 1970s, when “Rock Around the Clock” became the official anthem of 1950s nostalgia.

Merv Griffin was actually a singer to start with — he performed with Freddy
Martin
‘s orchestra in the 1940s — but his real fame came later, as a
talk show host and as the producer of the game shows Jeopardy and Wheel
of Fortune
.  I think you have to give Griffin the nod over Haley in terms of showbiz clout, at least.

But which will be more famous 100 years from now: “Rock Around the Clock” or the Jeopardy theme? 

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