 In February 1976, Haley's saxophone player and best friend, Rudy Pompilli, died of cancer after a nearly 20-year career with the Comets.Haley continued to tour for the next year with a succession of new sax players, but his popularity was waning again, and his 1976 performance in London was critically lambasted in the music media, such as "Melody Maker".That year, the group also recorded an album, "R-O-C-K" at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio for Sonet Records.