Bill Haley

Bill Haley's mother was Maude Green from Ulverston (now in Cumbria).

She emigrated to the USA aged 15 and went on to become a classically trained pianist and a piano teacher.

The original King of Rock'n'Roll was born on the 25th July 1925 as William John Clifton Haley.

He first played in a professional band in 1943. He formed his own band, originally called The Saddlemen, in about 1950 and in 1952 renamed them to become Bill Haley and The Comets.

They recorded "Rock Around The Clock" on the 12th of April 1954 and the rest as they say is history!

Haley & Friend

Stan Laurel

The other Ulverston lad to have had a successful hit record was Arthur Stanley Jefferson - who as Stan Laurel (with Oliver Hardy) had a hit with "Trail of The Lonesome Pine".

Stan was born in Ulverston on the 16th of June 1890.

His father was Arthur Jefferson who was very much involved with theatres, both acting and producing. His mother was Madge Metcalfe who was an actress.

Because their theatrical involvements took them all over the country, Stan and the other three children lived with their grandparents in Ulverston until 1905 when the family moved to Glasgow.