Born in Borger, Texas, into a musical family, Jackson or Jackie Haney as he was known growing up had the love of music instilled in him from his father, Jack, who owned a roofing business by day but became what he loved most at night, a musician, with his own band. Jack Haney was a talented guitarist who on occasion played with “Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys”. His mother, Dora, a homemaker, with a keen ear and a steady hand sometimes filled in as a drummer for her husband’s band. At the Haney household, jam sessions would happen at the drop of a hat. If you could pick up an instrument or tap your feet you were always welcome to join in. Jackie participated as best he could strum a little guitar with no strings.
Jackie was given his first guitar, strings attached, at the age of 8. He didn’t take an interest at first and promptly stuck it in the back of his closet until he was around 11 years old. He got out the old Sears Silvertone guitar with cowboys etched into the body, blew off the dust, sat on his bed, and tried to create his first note not knowing that this would be the beginning of a lifelong passion for music.
Jack Haney taught his son everything he knew about music and was amazed at how talented his son was. Jackie learned and surpassed his father in sheer natural talent but was always humble and respectful of the musical roots his father gave him.
Tragedy struck in 1966 when Jackie was 15 years old and his father died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Jackie knew that life would never be the same for him, his mother, and his little brother Dickie. There was no life insurance, no savings account…nothing. Jackie, Dora, and Dickie did the only thing they could to survive. Play music.
Jackie formed a band called “Jackie Haney & The Wild Mustangs” His little brother Dickie Haney, who was nine, and a drummer formed a band called “The Young Four”. Dora, the ever-supportive mother, became their manager and booking agent. Soon, weekends and summers were filled with the two bands playing all over parts of Texas and Oklahoma. School, homework, rehearsal, the show’s…a demanding schedule for two young boys like Jackie and Dickie, but this schedule was a matter of survival for the family. Jackie became the breadwinner of the family using the money he and his brother earned to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. Music was not a hobby at fifteen, it became his career.
With the British Invasion in full force, Jackie formed another band that combined the influences of the “Rockers” and the “Mods” of the time. The band was aptly named “The Rockin Mods”. This band would become a fixture in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and of course, Texas, where every young girl and guy would show up at “Teen Town” in Borger on a Friday or Saturday night just to hear the local version of the “mania” that had taken the world by storm. After a few years, when members of the band acquired other interests, “The Rockin Mods” disbanded.
Playing lead guitar and vocals, Jackie formed another band with his younger brother, Dickie Haney, who by now had become a very talented drummer, and named it “The Click”. This band became even more well-known around the panhandle as they belted out all the popular hits of the day.
Jackie’s next band was called “Easy” and gave him his first taste of life and music outside the midwest. With his maturing musical talent and some acting skills, he picked up in college Jackie wrote, produced, and choreographed a show called “Red, White and You” with his friend, Walt Myrick. This show toured nationally from 1974-1979 and included some notable audience members such as Mac Davis, Eric Burdon of The Animals, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship, and even a future President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
In 1983 Jackie formed a band called “Texas” which toured all over the country until 1987 and included a drummer by the name of Dave McAfee. Dave went on to play for country superstar Toby Keith and still does. Jackie and “Texas” decided to make the move to a hot new music scene in Oklahoma City.
Looking at what was happening on the music scene, Jackie disbanded “Texas” and put together a new band. He decided to resurrect the name “Jackie Haney and The Click” but changed “Click” to “Clique.”
The newly formed band became the regular act in a popular nightclub called “Friends” from 1987-2003, an unprecedented 16-year run, 5 nights a week. Toby Keith and Vince Gill were regulars at the club and soon became friends with the man they still call “Jocko”. Chuck Goff, a member of “The Clique” went on to become the bass player and music director for Toby Keith. As of 2011, “The Clique” is still at “Friends” with longtime friend and fellow musician Speedy West Jr. at the helm. Whenever Jackie travels through Oklahoma City he sometimes stops at the place he called “home” for so many years and on occasion, sits in with his old band. The last time Jackie and his wife were at “Friends”, Speedy pulled Jackie’s wife aside wanting to fill her in on some of the histories of “The Clique” and said “This is the house that Jackie built.”
During this time Jackie was offered a job to become the guitar player for Toby Keith who was just starting to get some national recognition. Jackie was newly married and didn’t want to leave his new wife for a musician’s life on the road so he turned Toby down.
After leaving “Friends” and feeling like he had explored as much of the music scene in OKC that he could, he decided to try his luck at a solo career. Jackie named his solo act “Jack & The Box” and ended up kicking around Texas and Oklahoma with this act for the next few years.
With some encouragement from his friends, Ralph Hurley and John Hochgraefe, Jackie moved to Branson, Missouri to try his luck in the “Live Music Capital of the World”. At this time, he decided to pay tribute to his father and the influence he had on his musical career. Growing up, Jackie had always been referred to as “Jack’s Son” so Jackie decided to become professionally known as Jackson Haney.
Jackson arrived in Branson and believe it or not had a gig in a local nightclub within 30 minutes. For the next few weeks, he sang and played his heart out for anyone that would listen.
Jackson received a phone call five weeks into his solo gig asking him if he would like to audition for a “world-famous band.” Jackson, thinking this was a joke told the guy “where to go” and was about to hang up on him but the caller, D’Vaughan Pershing, was a member of the world-famous “Comets” of “Rock Around The Clock” fame. After Jackson picked himself up off the floor he accepted the invitation to audition.
Frantic, Jackson went home to practice “Rock Around The Clock” and the world-famous guitar solo in the middle of the song. Jackson called his friend, Gary Myers, who plays guitar for Mickey Gilley, and asked if he knew “the” solo from the history-making tune that changed the landscape of music forever. Gary laughed and told him that nobody knows that solo but wished him luck in the audition. The solo contains around 136 notes in about 11-12 seconds.
The audition day arrived. Jackson found himself on stage at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater with 4 members of Bill Haley’s Original Comets. Rock & Roll royalty was standing in front of him waiting to hear what kind of talent….if any, “this kid” had.
The Comets asked him to join them on “Rock Around The Clock.” When they counted the song off though, they started it much faster than the original record. Jackson hadn’t prepared for this but played the song at a faster pace. Here comes the guitar solo he thought. How was he going to get through this solo in around 8-10 seconds? He held his breath and played the solo as best he could. When the song was over, Jackson bowed his head and thanked God for the opportunity to audition. The Comets saxophone player, Joey Ambrose, came over, put his arm around Jackson, and said…”We haven’t heard the solo that good since 1957.” The next day Jackson was offered the job. What he didn’t know at the time was that he beat out 300 other guitar players from across the country for his place in music history by becoming the youngest member of Bill Haley’s Original Comets…..the first band of Rock & Roll.
Since joining “Bill Haley’s Original Comets” Jackson has toured all over the world playing lead guitar and became the lead singer and music director of the world-renowned band. He quickly became a fan favorite and “the boys” affectionately called him “Baby Comet.” At an age when most musicians are retiring, Jackson’s career seems to be “Rockin Around The Clock..”
Jackson decided to leave Bill Haley’s Original Comets in 2011 to pursue a solo career and admits fear about leaving a world-famous band to go out on his own. He put his fears aside and “went for” what many believe he was born to do. His solo career has blossomed. He has become one of the top solo entertainers in Branson and when the season is over in Branson….he tours all over the country. He has been named Branson “Entertainer of the Year”, “CD of the Year“, AND “Third Most Requested Artist” on BransonRadio. With the release of his new cd…”It’s Alright”….we hope he becomes #1 on BransonRadio.