A Rockapaedia Obituary
Ralph Jones
Band: Bill Haley and The Comets
Ralph Jones died aged seventy-nine from heart failure on 1st June, 2000 in a nursing home in Chester, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Ralph Jones was born on 28th February, 1921 and later left his job as a milkman to join Bill Haley and The Comets in late 1955 when he replaced former drummer Don Raymond. At the time of joining, Ralph Jones was working as a milkman and with the recording of the hit "See You Later, Alligator" that December, he became the first drummer of the Comets to be featured in a recording session since previous Comet drummers were substituted by session musicians in the studio. Ralph had been introduced by Bill Haley's sax player, Rudy Pompilli, them both having previously been members of Little Earnies Four Horsemen, a group from Chester, Pennsylvania. Initially hired only as a touring member,
Ralph Jones demanded to appear on Bill Haley and The Comets's recordings and made his debut on the 1956 million selling hit, 'See You Later Alligator'.
With Bill Haley and The Comets's fortunes waning after leaving Decca for
Warner Brothers Records, Ralph Jones quit at the end of a Mexican tour in 1960.
In 2012, Ralph Jones, along with most of the other 1950-1960 members of the Comets, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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song: 'See you later Alligator' by Bill Haley and the Comets