Al Rex

Albert Floyd Piccirilli (July 13, 1928 – May 24, 2020), also known by his stage name Al Rex, was an American bass player for Bill Haley & His Comets and its predecessor Bill Haley and the Saddlemen.^[2][3]

Al Rex
Al Rex in 1958
Background information
Birth name	Albert Floyd Piccirilli[1]
Born	(1928-07-13)July 13, 1928 Black Horse, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
Died	May 24, 2020(2020-05-24) (aged 91) Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Rock and roll, jazz, country
Occupation	Bassist
Instrument	Bass
Years active	1949–1960
Formerly of	Bill Haley and the Saddlemen Bill Haley & His Comets

Bill Haley and His Comets in 1956. Left to right: Rudy Pompilli, Billy Williamson, Al Rex, Johnny Grande, Ralph Jones, Franny Beecher. Top: Bill Haley.

Background

He started playing for them in 1949 and became noted for "wild antics" on stage. He formed his own band, Al Rex and the Regaleers in 1960. He left the music industry soon after, although he continued to perform on occasion. He later had a wife^[1] and fathered eight children.^[4] On May 24, 2020, he died in his Norristown, Pennsylvania home from pneumonia. He was the last surviving of the Comets.^[5]

Film appearances

He appeared as a member of the band in the 1950s films Rock Around the Clock (1956) and Don't Knock the Rock (1957).