The song "Rock Around the Clock" was published in early 1953 by his publishing company Myers Music in Philadelphia. Myers first pitched the song to Bill Haley. Although Bill Haley & His Comets were supposed to be the first to record it, a dispute between Myers and Dave Miller, Haley's producer for Essex Records prevented Haley from doing so (though Haley later claimed he tried several times to record it at Essex). Myers was convinced, however, that the song would be a hit. He organized the recording of the song on Arcade Records. The first recording of the song was made by an Italian-American band, Sonny Dae & His Knights. It was released as a 45 single but failed to chart. Haley finally recorded it in April 1954 for Decca Records and in 1955, following its popular use in the opening credits of the film "Blackboard Jungle", the song became the first No. 1 record of the Rock and Roll era.