"Harry Parry was born in 1912 at Caellepa, Bangor. He practiced his sax fiercely whilst holding down a job at the Science department of the university. I was close to the family at that period, Hughie, Harry's brother, being a very good friend and closer to my age.
Harry formed a group and performed in Llandudno, quickly rising as a prominent name in the performing arts and the world of jazz. He was picked up by the BBC and asked to form a group named 'Harry Parry and the Jazz Sextet'. Some of his recordings were available in the BBC's archives some years ago, and were played several times on the BBC show Anything Goes.
Harry travelled with his group, entertaining the troops in WW2. He sadly died in 1956.
Spike Milligan muses a great deal in his writings regarding Harry Parry when he was working with the BBC in London."
We have further discovered that Harry was the oldest of the Parry family, which included Hughie, Vera, Unica and Tommy, who died during the Normandy landings of WWII.
Harry was invited by the BBC to front the band on the Radio Rhythm Show, and thereafter the Sextet was regularly heard by the BBC listeners. The group included George Shearing on piano and, later, Scotsman Joe Temperley, also on sax.
In 1945, the Radio Rhythm Club Sextet appeared in the film What Do We Do Now. Harry went on to record over 100 discs for Parlophone Records, including the 78 rpm disc I've Got You Under My Skin with the Harry Parry Octet, as well as Mood Indigo and Night and Day, with vocalist Dorothee Baronne.
Michael Johnson from Newburgh, Indiana, USA remembers Harry: "I used to live at 19 Caellepa next to the Parry family, and his sister Eunice was my mother's best friend. I remember as a child during the war going to his home and listening to Harry play.
I am now 63 and have lived in the US since 1962. Are there any recordings available of his music, as I would love to hear him again.
The last I heard of Eunice was that she lived in Ruislip nr London with her husband Stan. Her daughter lives in the US just north of Memphis Tennessee."
your comments
Fred Moyes from Aberfeldy. Scotland and now in Ont
I had a dance band in the 1950s playing in Perthshire and occasionally travelling as far afield as Glasgow. Playing trumpet was Norrie Pow from Dundee, who played numerous Dave Wilkins choruses which he had learned, note for note, from the Harry Parry Parlophone recordings. I would very much like to obtain copies of these records, in particular those featuring Dave Wilkins. Can anyone help?
Thu Jul 2 11:54:02 2009
Kenneth M Bryant
I have been asked to write a biographical volume about Harry Parry who inspired me when I was in school during the last war. I have already got a lot of info, but what I really would like is some anecdotes about him. I have got some basic details from Bangor University and had the pleasure of meeting his sister Eunice, before she died a couple of years ago. I can be contacted through my website.
Fri May 8 12:44:12 2009
Nick Parsons , Coventry
I have been tracing my birth family. My great grandmother was Hilda Sophia Taylor nee Tricklebank born circa 1901 Burton on Trent. Her mother was Elizabeth Parry, from Hereford, her aunt was Kitty Parry. Hilda told her daughter, my grandmother, that she was related to Harry Parry, the band leader. Could anyone tell me if this is correct?
Tue Sep 30 09:49:16 2008
Elaine Brown for Kitchener Ontario
Response to I. Miller. I was born in London, England in 1948 and moved to Ontario, Canada in 1967. Always wanted to know more about my mother's father's relatives. George "Happy" Blake and Cyril Blake. This is also my grandfather and great uncle. I have now found two people who were grandchildren of Happy Blake. Found quite a bit about Cyril on the internet, not so much about George Blake. I do remember always sitting in his house and smelling his Cuban cigar which had a gold holder.
Tue Mar 25 09:57:28 2008
l Miller England
My grandfather and great uncle were George and Cyril Blake. I have a copy of a live recording from the Jigs club in London where Harry Parry does the live intro to the recording. I too would like to know more about Harry Parry.
Mon Jan 14 09:29:01 2008
Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
I read all your contributors re Harry Parry with great interest because, although I heard an awful lot about him and - not surprisingly - George Shearing as well, my Mum & Dad thought I was too young to be taken to dances where they were both playing. So I was rather surprised, having read for the first time in your feaature that Harry Parry was a student at University College, Bangor, that no-one mentioned that he and his band used to play for dances held in the Powis Hall at the college during World War II. My parents used to attend them, as did many others, for these dances were, perhaps, the peak of Bangor social life in wartime and Mum & Dad both spoke warmly of the quality of the band.Bangor was spoilt for talent of star quality during those war years and I reaped the benefit - as I have written elsewhere on your website - but, sadly, I heard neither Harry Parry nor George Shearing as my parents thought dances were not a suitable environment for an eleven year old.
Tue Aug 28 10:03:45 2007
phughes, nyc
For the economy-minded: for less than the price of "Parry Opus" you can get 4 CDs of early Shearing ["From Battersea to Broadway", Proper Box #40] which contain two HP cuts. [Try CDUniverse for sound samples.]
Unfortunately, the set doesn't include the earliest Welsh-titled originals, "Dim Blues"!
Incidentally, when I was a schoolboy in Bangor during the 1950s HP was, along with Huw Wheldon, celebrated as a "local boy made good". And he seemed to have a presence on the BBC. So I'd be cautious about defining him as "neglected" at that time. Maybe later.
On the general topic of things Cymric in jazz, I guess we're all familiar with Leonard Feather's rip-off "Men of Harlem" [w. Pete Brown et al, c. 1937-8]
And I think I hear Slim Gaillard attempting a "iechyd da" somewhere. [If anyone cares, I'll dig up the title.]
Bill Challis claimed Welsh ancestry, though I've never known what to make of that.
Is anyone aware of other, pre-Dill, obviously, examples?
Mon Nov 6 10:01:35 2006
Pat Rodgers, niece, Bracknell
Harry was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and, if my memory serves me correctly, his ashes were scattered in my Grandmother's garden in 31 Caellepa.
Mon Feb 27 10:07:00 2006
Timothy Sprigge Sussex
About where he was buried - I don't know, though it was surely in Wales. At the time my mother sent me a rather sad cutting from a newspaper saying that very few people went to his funeral, and just one real enthusiast for his music. I suppose that there was not much interest in him at that time. It is good that there is now a CD of his music (Parry Opus) and I have managed to order an earlier CD called Crazy Rhythm.
Fri Feb 24 14:44:55 2006
Bill Ward, Torquay
I am sure there are bits and pieces about Harry in my late father's memorabilia.
Harry and his band were regulars at the late-night Jigs Club that he (my father) ran in Wardour Street in the late 30s.
The club catered for jazz, boxing and billiards followers, with many US musicians including Satchmo, Ellington and Mills Brothers calling in after their up-market gigs.
Anything specific to Harry I can find I shall post shortly.
Fri Dec 30 22:57:12 2005
Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Following my mother Eunice's death(Harry's youngest sister)on May 1st 2005 I have relocated back to Nottingham. Ken Bryant who has been working on a book featuring 3 famous sons of Wales (one of them Harry) is now near publication.When it is available I will put full details on this website. I will now have a mountain of family photographs to go through and have already seen a several unpublished photos of Harry, a letter from him to his mother Emily Jane Parry from his Indian tour and the order of service from his funeral at Golders Green. I will try and get these items in time on a website.
Mike Tayler
Fri Jul 8 23:27:28 2005
Pat Rodgers, Bracknell, Berkshire
I was prompted to look again at this web site after some considerable time following the sad death of my very special Auntie Eunice, my mother's last remaining sibling. Having lost my own father three years ago now, this was losing the last link of that generation. It has however prompted contact with my second cousin, Brian Williams, in Caernarvon and the usual promises to keep in touch. I do intend to go with my sister to visit Brian and hope to do this later in the year.
To Bill Wardale in New Zealand
I would like very much to contact you direct.
If I do find a way, I look forward to hearing from you and will try and make the effort to check the website more frequently. We are all getting older and it seems much more important suddenly to keep in contact with family (however distant)and trying to trace the family tree is something that I would like to spend more time doing.
Tue Jun 7 13:57:39 2005
Joan Macrae, Llanfair. P.G.
Eunice Taylor (Harry Parry's sister) recently passed away (May 2005). Eunice was a first cousin to my mother (who has also sadly passed away). I keep in contact with Alison (in America, whom I visited over Christmas) and Mike in Ruislip, who are the son and daughter of Eunice.
Fri Jun 3 16:03:23 2005
John from Bangor, originally
My cousin Glyn Owen ("Glyn Douglas and his band")used to play regularly in all the dances in Bangor during the 40s 50s. One chap in the band went on to be an International saxophone player, Cyril Reuben,he also played for the "Squadronaires".
Thu Jun 2 22:28:34 2005
John Fryer of Chiswick, London
My mother, Sheila Fryer, used to produce Radio Rhythm Club, and gave George Webb and his Dixielanders (incl. Humphrey Lyttleton) their first break on the radio. Sadly she died in 1965.
Wed May 4 11:57:25 2005
Andy Roberts - Jazz Connection - BBC Radio Wales
There's a track by Harry Parry called The Java Joint on a new 4-CD box set called Jazz in Britain 1919-1950. I'll be giving a copy of the box set away on my new series which starts Tuesday 10 May at 7pm.
Mon Apr 18 16:25:18 2005
Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Just to let all Harry's fans know that Ken Bryant who lives in SE England and has had several books published is close to publishing a book of famous sons of Wales in which Harry will be featured. Ken has met Eunice, Harry's sister, and has copied various photographs/memorabilia in our possession. I also have acquired some large original BBC discs of Radio Rhythm Club which may be of interest to enthusiasts.
Mon Jan 17 19:40:12 2005
Pat Rodgers
To: Bill Wardale. I have not visited this site for some time, but was prompted by one of my nieces discovering it the other day and being fascinated to find one of her distant relatives on the net. I was very surprised to read your message as I was unawre of your existence (as I am sure you are of mine). I cannot tell you anything about your grandmother except that I remember her name. I am presuming that she was my grandfather's sister; my grandfather being Henry Parry (Harry's father), who died around the same time as Harry. My Auntie Eunice is still alive and I will see if she can recall anything of your grandmother when I speak to her next. For your information, there are now six descendants of my sister and I (2 girls and 4 boys) and Eunice has seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. I live in Berkshire and my sister, Pam, lives in Birmingham. It would be great to hear some information from you as to your family. I look forward to hearing from you.
Mon Dec 6 20:44:15 2004
Clive Fuller, Smethwick
Sunflower Records, Aylesbury, have issued a CD Crazy Rhythm, Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet.
Mon Jul 19 13:03:35 2004
Mike Tayler from Ruislip, Middlesex
I am Harry Parry's nephew and the only son of Eunice Tayler (nee Parry), Harry's youngest sister. Eunice, my mum is still alive and I am looking after her here in Middlesex following an unexpected divorce. Mum is 79 and recently had a heart attack but appears to have come through it well. Mum and Dad gave many items re: Harry to Bangor University archives and most of the original Parlophone records to the National sound archives but we still have some original files on Harry here at Ruislip and I have inherited a few huge demo discs from an enthusiast in Hampshire.
By the way Harry's brother Tom did not die in the Normandy landings but was blown up in Italy and his remains are at Monte Cassino. we have the grave number somewhere. We also have Tom's medal and certificate from when he sang at George VI's coronation at Westminster Abbey on 12th May 1937. A gentleman has been in touch with my mother trying to write a definitive history of Harry for some 3 years now but is suffering from a shortage of information. Mum has inherited Harry's royalties which are very small these days and largely generated on his signature tune, "Champagne". With the centenary of Harry's birth not that far away it would be lovely to mark the occasion with a small book on this famous "son of Wales.
Tue Jul 6 21:51:05 2004
Bill Wardale from New Zealand
My beloved grandmother was, I believe, Harry's auntie. Her name was Sydney Parry. If anybody can give me any information about her I would be very grateful.
Sat Mar 20 00:53:01 2004
John Milbank from Sussex
I continue with my research and have discovered that Harry's wife Jeanie died in 1951 after catching a mysterious illness whilst on tour with Harry in India.
I was delighed to read the message from Harry's niece and to learn that there are
people out there who remember Harry and his band.
Fri Jan 23 19:59:11 2004
Michael Johnson
I think it's wonderful that so many folk have responded to the music comments on Harry Parry. A gentleman from South Wales contacted me via the internet and sent a tape of Harry's playing for which I am very thankful. Also to Leslie Roberts - I was wondering if he knew my mother Winnie Williams as she worked at Haynes on the High street. My father worked at Pollecoffs and yes I remember well the times walking up the hill of Caellepa carrying the milk from the little dairy shop across from the Bank and Antoniassi's Ice cream. So long ago.
To Pat Rodgers - does Eunice still live in London? When I saw her last, in Cheshire, her home was named "Swn y Gwynt".
To Rod Holcombe - my brother Andrew lives in Devon in Herndon, nr Mary Tavey. He is also a musician.
I wish to thank this web site for giving great connections to my old stomping grounds. Cymru Am Byth.
Sat Jan 10 19:57:33 2004
Pat Rodgers (nee Roberts)
I am the elder daughter of Vera Parry, Harry's younger sister. Eunice, the younger sister, is still alive, though her husband Stan died a few years ago. My own father, Gwilym, died three years ago. There are still six of us of my generation alive. My sister, Eunice's two children and Hughie's two children are also still alive
Mon Dec 29 14:31:55 2003
Rod Holcombe from Kingsbridge, South Devon
Reply to Michael Johnson. Very interesting to hear your comments of Caellepa in Bangor. I visited the road last year and would imagine it has seen better days. Yes, there is a Harry Parry CD available here on the Empress label entitled Gone with the Wind. I have it on good authority also that there is another CD soon to come out on the Vocalion label. Details awaited.
Jazz Journal International has had some letters starting in January 2003 on the subject of Harry Parry and his recordings and show that he is not forgotten, though he has been neglected as far as record issues. My best wishes to other Parry interested folk.
Mon Nov 17 10:08:57 2003
Timothy Sprigge from Edinburgh
During the 1940s (I was born in 1932) one of my greatest pleasure was derived from Parlophone Recordings of Harry Parry and his Radio Sextet. I have quite a lot of them now transferred onto casssettes. I thought that Harry Parry was completely forgotten until it occurred to me one day to check if his name was on the internet. I still delight in his music on the cassette. If his music ever comes again on CD I will be delighted. There was such a delightful jauntiness and harmoniousness about the music of his Radio Sextet, especially his own playing. And I only discovered recently that it must be George Shearing on the piano in some of these recordings.
Wed Nov 5 11:15:35 2003
Rod Holcombe, Kingsbridge, Devon
In reply to John Millbank, Harry was cremated and the ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium. The programme of the funeral service is in the local file at Bangor University and they will do a photocopy of this and other Harry Parry material at nominal cost. I do not know what became of his wife Jean. I applaud your researches and wonder if you knew of the article in Memory Lane last issue and the forthcoming (hopefully) Jazz Journal.
Fri Oct 31 09:38:12 2003
John Milbank from Sussex
I am planning a web site about Harry Parry's career but need a little more personal information. Can anyone tell me where he is buried and anything about his wife Jean (nee Alton)?
Wed Sep 10 19:21:52 2003
