Jun 24, 2022
Harry Parry was born in north Wales in 1912. He trained to be a musical instrument maker but the performance side took over and he moved to London to play in big bands, including Percival Mackey's. He established his own six piece band and was asked by the BBC to lead the band for their Radio Rythmn Club show. He was popular throughout the 1940s and into the 50s. He died at the age of 44 in 1956. His music was fun, with a real swing and he brought interesting vocalists and musicians to perform and record with the Sextet. Jazz legend George Shearing was his pianist for many years. Check out Bob Stanley's book, 'Let's do it.' It's a great read about the history of British and American pop. It has a complimentary section about Harry in it. BBC Radio one D.J John Peel was a fan of Parry.
Bounce me brother with a solid four, vocalist Doreen Villiers. Mr five by five- vocalist Dave Wilkins. Stars fell on Alabama- vocalist Harry Parry. Black eyes(1941). Crazy rhythm(1942). It don't count(1941). Lonesome road(1946). Blues around my bed, vocalist Ruby Marlow. Pontiac jump. Stardust. Parry opus. My blue heaven. We end with the wonderful Softly as in a morning sunrise.