Johnny Grande, 76; an Original Member of Bill Haley’s Comets
Johnny Grande, 76, an original member of Bill Haley and His Comets who played piano on their hit “Rock Around the Clock,” died June 3 at his home in Clarksville, Tenn.
“Rock Around the Clock” was recorded in 1954 and was a No. 1 hit for eight weeks before going on to sell 22 million copies worldwide, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It gained new popularity when it was chosen for the soundtracks of the movies “The Blackboard Jungle” in 1955, a film named for the song in 1956 and “American Graffiti” in 1974.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 17, 2006 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday June 17, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 0 inches; 33 words Type of Material: Correction
Grande obituary: The obituary of pianist Johnny Grande, one of Bill Haley’s original Comets, in the California section June 10 said “American Graffiti” was released in 1974. The movie was released in 1973.
Born in Philadelphia, Grande was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1997. Haley is the only member of the group in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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John Tenta, 42, who was best known as a professional wrestler under the name “Earthquake” and who feuded with Hulk Hogan at World Wrestling Federation events, died Wednesday in Houston of complications from bladder cancer. Before becoming a pro wrestler, Tenta was a well-known sumo wrestler in Japan and an amateur wrestling champion in Canada
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