Sunday 22 January 2023

Harry Parry born 22 January 1912


Harry Owen Parry (22 January 1912 – 18 October 1956) was a Welsh jazz clarinetist and bandleader. 

Parry was born in Caepella, Bangor, Caernarfonshire, Wales. The eldest son of Henry Parry, railway worker, and Emily Jane (née Rowlands). He was educated at Glanadda school and the Central School. He joined the department of physics, University College of North Wales, as an apprentice instrument maker. He showed an early interest in playing musical instruments and when twelve years old joined one of the district's brass bands. He was a member of St. Mary's Church choir, but was intent on playing instruments. 

He soon became adept at playing the tenor horn, flügel horn, cornet, violin as well as drums. He mastered the saxophone and was said to be Wales ' champion player. He was an expert clarinettist - his favourite instrument - and was taught initially by Francis Jones (1904 - 1986) of Port Dinorwic. He yearned to develop a more swinging musical style and experimented in that direction. At 16 Harry was playing with the Harold Dobbs Marina Band, often twice a week, at venues like Palfreymans Hall (Ambassadors Hall)  Jimmy’s” youth club at St James Church now pulled down, Powis Hall at Bangor University and other venues in Caernarfon, Anglesey and North Wales. 

In 1932 Harry gave up his job as a scientific instrument maker to turn professional with Eddie Shaw’s Band for the summer season at Paynes Cafe later moving to the London He played with several dance bands during 1933 to 1939, where he played alto saxophone and scat-sang in bands led by George Colborn, Miff Ferrie, Percival Mackey, Oscar Grasso, Neville Bishop, Paul Lombard and Charles Shadwell. He then led his own six-piece unit. His style was heard by some of the B.B.C.'s leading figures as he had by then joined some of England's main bands. Charles Chilton suggested that he should form his own instrumental group and that he should use the vibraphone instead of the trumpet. 

On 28 September 1940 the sounds of the 'Radio Rhythm' Club sextet which he formed were heard for the first time. Miff Ferrie heard of him and it was from that association that the group ' Jackdauz ' was formed. He held concerts in the Locarno, London, and shared platforms with musicians like Michael Flome, Louis Levy and Charles Shadwell. He joined the blind pianist, George Shearing, and the drummer, Ben Edwards, to form a trio which became very popular. It was his sextet which was the first to make a record in the ' Super Rhythm ' series for the Parlophone company; his association with this company lasted for ten years recording over 100 titles, which included George Shearing and Doreen Villiers as members. 


                             

Many of his plans were shattered by World War II, but he resumed them later and formed a permanent orchestra in the Potomac, London. His compositions ' Parry Opus ', ' Thrust and Parry ', ' Potomac Jump ', ' Blue for Eight ', ' Says You ' and the most popular, perhaps, ' Champagne ' became household names amongst his followers. He appeared in five short films and was described by some critics as ' Britain's jazz king '. According to one of his contemporaries, he was the first from Wales and England to record a voice in instrumental style with the co-operation of his own band. 

The crowds flocked to listen to him in centres such as the Hippodrome, Birmingham; the Empire, Woolwich; and the Empire, Glasgow. He played for the King & Queen at Windsor castle on the 18th June 1948. His popularity waned during his tour of the Middle East and Egypt. After his return he presented the popular programme ' Housewives Choice '; he was also involved in the children's programme ' Crackerjack '. According to some columnists at the time, he died when he was on the brink of regaining his popularity, as he was the first to present 'swing' music to the layman. He was described by an Evening Standard columnist at the time as ' the third best clarinettist in the world '. 

His heroes were Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Benny Carter, Count Basie and Glenn Miller. Towards the end of his life he attempted to adopt a style similar to Miller. He counted Henry Hall, Roy Fox and Geraldo amongst his friends. His first wife was Gwen Davies. After a divorce he married Jessie Bradbury in 1945, a professional singer, but that marriage failed in 1956. They were childless. He thought highly of his home town, but seldom had the opportunity to return there. 

Harry and singer Tessa Sims

His last record to be issued was recorded in 1949, and was his sextet augmented to an octet. The arrangements were by Steve Race, then a trail blazing modernist, with the respected pianist Dill Jones, and trombonist Harry Roche. His last recording session was in 1950 but nothing was issued from the session. He appeared on TV with his group, including childrens shows, and acted in several radio plays but his heyday was over. Harry Parry died from a heart attack on 11 October 1956 at the young age of 44, in his room in Adam's Row, Mayfair, London. His ashes were buried in Golders Green crematorium, London. 

(Edited from Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Wikipedia, The Bangor Aye & Henrybebop)

5 comments:

boppinbob said...

For ”Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet – Crazy Rhythm (2006 Sunflower) “ go here:

https://www.imagenetz.de/bNNVF

01) Harry Parry - Champagne
02) Harry Parry - I Can-'t Dance (feat. Dave Wilkins)
03) Harry Parry - Honeysuckle Rose
04) Harry Parry - Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe
05) Harry Parry - Crazy Rhythm
06)Harry Parry - You Are My Lucky Star
07) Harry Parry - Angry (feat. Benny Lee)
08) Harry Parry - I-'ve Found a New Baby
09) Harry Parry - Blues Around My Bed (feat. Rita Marlow)
10) Harry Parry - Thrust and Parry
11) Harry Parry - The Darktown Strutters Ball
12) Harry Parry - Blue Train Blues
13) Harry Parry - Who-'s Sorry Now
14) Harry Parry - Don-'t Be That Way
15) Harry Parry - Polly Put the Kettle On
16) Harry Parry - My Favourite Dream (feat. Gail Paige)
17) Harry Parry - Potomac Jump
18) Harry Parry - Mr. Five-By-Five (feat. Dave Wilkins)
19) Harry Parry - Stardust
20) Harry Parry - A Hundred Years from Today
21) Harry Parry - Boogie Rider To York
22) Harry Parry - Tea for Two
23) Harry Parry - Okay for Baby
24) Harry Parry - Someone-'s In the Kitchen With Dinah
25) Harry Parry - Lonesome Road BONUS TRACKS from digital album “Parry’s Opus” (2014 MVE)
26) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Black Eyes
27) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Boog It
28) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Softly as in a Mornin
29) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Dim Blues
30) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Parry Opus
31) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - It Don-'t Count
32) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - I-'m Young and Health
33) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Bounce Me Daddy with
34) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Don-'t Be That Way
35) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - The Java Joint
36) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Oceans and Motions
37) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - My Melancholy Baby
38) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - I May Be Wrong
39) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Blues for Eight
40) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - Someday Sweetheart
41) Harry Parry & His Radio Rhythm Club Sextet - The Sheik of Araby

gilles said...

Many thanks for sharing the music of this very talented musician

jazzing said...

Harry Parry and His Radio
Rhythm Club Sextet
[Harry Owen Parry, clarinetist, bandleader, Wales 1912-
London 1956]

Recordings for the BBC,1941-1942.


[EMI Records, vinyl LP, EG 26 0294 1,
UK, 1984]

He formed a trio, including George Shearing, to
play on the BBC's Radio Rhythm Club and it
became the show's house band. He later became
producer of the show and increased the trio to
a sextet where he began a long association with the
Parlophone record label selling huge quantities of
records. His sextet recorded over 100 titles for the
Parlophone label. He was a huge success with
this group and, in the immediate pre war years,
it became one of the most talked about musical
attractions in the West End pushing him into
the limelight. In 1940, his became the house band
at the St Regis Hotel and he led the BBC's Radio
Rhythm Club show. His style has been
compared to that of Benny Goodman and his
band and included at various times vibraphonist
Roy Marsh, pianists George Shearing and
Tommy Pollard and trumpeters Dave Wilkins
and Stan Roderick.

1-Champagne
2-Honeysuckle Rose
3-Thrust And Parry
4-Black Eyes
5-Boog It
6-Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
7-Dim Blues
8-Parry Opus
9-It Don’t Count
10-I’m Young And Healthy
11-Bounce Me, Brother, With A A Solid Four
12-Don’t Be That Way
13-The Java Joint
14-Oceans And Motions
15-My Melancholy Baby
16-I May Be Wrong
17-Blues For Eight
18-Someday Sweetheart (BL voc)
19-The Sheik Of Araby
Discografía:
Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet:

1-2: Harry Parry – clarinet; Roy Marsh – vibe; George Shearing,
Piano; Frank Deniz – guitar; Stan Molyneux – bass;
Ben Edwards – drums
London, 19/07/1941 [November 1941, Par UK R-2817]
3: Harry Parry, cl; Reggie Dare, ts; Tommy Pollard, p;
Roy Marsh, vib; Lauderic Caton, solo g; Archie Slavin, g;
Charlie Short, b; Bobby Richards, d.
London, 11/01/1942 [February 1942, Par R 2832]
4: Harry Parry – clarinet; Roy Marsh – vibe; George Shearing,
piano; Joe Deniz – guitar; Tommy Bromley – bass;
Ben Edwards – drums
London, 28/01/1944 [March 1941, Par R 27686]
5-6: same, 28/01/1941 [April 1941, Par R 2789]
7-8: Harry Parry – clarinet; Roy Marsh – vibe; George Shearing,
Piano; Frank Deniz – guitar; Stan Molyneux – bass;
Ben Edwards – drums
London, 03/05/1941 [June 1941, Par R 2793]
9-10: same, London, 03/05/1941 [August 1941, Par R 2804]
11-12: Harry Parry – clarinet; Roy Marsh – vibe; George Shearing,
Piano; Frank Deniz – guitar; Stan Molyneux – bass;
Ben Edwards – drums / Doreen Villiers, voc
London, 19/07/1941 [September 1941, Par R 2808]
13: Harry Parry – clarinet; Tommy Pollard – piano; Roy Marsh-
vibe; Lauderic Caton - solo g; Joe Deniz – guitar; Tommy Bromley –
bass; Bobby Midgely – drums.
London, 19/10/1941[December 1941, Par R 2822]
The Harry Parry Trio:
14: [December 1941, Par R 2822]
Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet:

15-16: Harry Parry – clarinet; Tommy Pollard – piano; Roy Marsh-
vibe; Lauderic Caton - solo g; Joe Deniz – guitar; Tommy Bromley –
bass; Bobby Midgely – drums / Doreen Villiers, vvoc.
London, 19/10/1941 [January 1942, Par R 2826]

17: as 3.
London, 11/01/1942 [February 1942, Par R 2832]

18: as 3, Benny Lee, voc.
London, 11/01/1942 [March 1942, Par R 2834]


19: as 3
London, 11/01/1942 [March 1942, Par R 2834]

-------------------- -------------------

jazzing said...

Harry Parry and His Radio
Rhythm Club Sextet -
Harry Parry Sextet
[Harry Owen Parry, clarinetist, bandleader, Wales 1912-
London 1956]

Recordings 1942-1946


[Compilation from Sunflower Records, “Crazy Rhythm”,
CD, SUN 2162, UK, & Vocalion, “Parry Opus”, CD,
CDEA 6101, UK, 2004]

1-I’ve Found A New Baby
2-Crazy Rhythm
3-Angry
4-Potomac Jump
5-Who’s Sorry Now
6-Blues Around My Bed
7-Boogie Rider To York (piano solo)
8-Mr. Five-By Five
9-You Are My Lucky Star
10-Blue Train Blues
11-The Darktown Strutters Ball
12-Stardust
13-Polly Put The Kettle On
14-Dr. Heckle And Mr Jibe
15-Tea For Two
16-Okay For Baby
17-Lonesoma Road
18-My Favourite Dream
19-Someone’s In The Kitchen With Dinah
20-A Hundred Years From Today
21-I Can’t Dance
Discografía:
Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet:

01: Harry Parry – clarinet; Roy Marsh – vibe; George Shearing,
piano; Joe Deniz – guitar; Tommy Bromley – bass;
Ben Edwards – drums
London, 28/01/1944 [Par]
02: Harry Parry, cl; Reggie Dare, ts; Tommy Pollard, p;
Lauderic Caton, solo g; Archie Slavin, g;
Charlie Short, b; Bobby Richards, d.
London, 05/06/1942 [Par]
03: same, Benny Lee, voc; London, 05/06/1942 [Par]
04-05: Dave Wilkins, tp, voc; Harry Parry – cl; Ken Oldham, ts;
York De Souza, piano; Joe Deniz – guitar; Sam Molineaux – bass;
Sid Raymond – drums
London, 14/08/1942 [Par]
06: Dave Wilkins, tp, voc; Harry Parry – cl; Ken Oldham, ts;
York De Souza, piano; Sam Molyneux – b; Sid Raymond – d;
Rita Marlowe, voc.
London, 11/11/1942 [Par]
07: York De Souza, p. solo
London, 11/11/1942 [Par]
08: Dave Wilkins, tp, voc; Harry Parry – cl; Ken Oldham, ts;
Derek Neville, as, bass sax; York De Souza, piano;
Sam Molineaux – b; Sid Raymond – d; Dave Wilkins, voc.
London, 10/12/1942 [Par]
09-12: same, Harry Parry, voc (10)
London, 23/03/1943 [Par]

13-14: same. Rita Marlowe, voc
London, 21/06/1943 [Par]

15/20: Sam Roderick, tp; Harry Parry – cl; Ken Oldham, ts;
Derek Neville, as, bass sax; York De Souza, piano;
Sam Molineaux – b; Sid Raymond – d; Harry Parry, voc (20)
London, 22/07/1943 [Par]
Harry Parry Sextet:

16-17: Pat Barnett, tp / Harry Parry, cl / Alan Clarke, as,
bass sax / Mickey Dennis, ts / Leo Ward, p / Hugh
Ward, p / Irving Tidswell, d.
London, 19/06/1946 [Par]

18-19: Harry Parry, cl; others unk.
Unk date [probably Par]

Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet:
21: as 04-05, Dave Wilkins, voc.
London, 14/08/1942 [Par]

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boppinbob said...

A big thank you to jazzing for supplying the session dates and credits.