Harry Parry & His Radio Sextet

The 22nd January 2012 saw the anniversary of the birth of Welsh band leader Harry Parry who was born on the 22nd January 1912 in Bangor, North Wales.

Parry, the eldest of six children was born into a working class class family and showed early musical promise being able to play most musical instruments, piano apart, by a very early age.

He trained to become an instrument maker at Bangor University and played locally in North Wales before travelling to London where he became a great success with a variety of line up ranging from a trio to an octet.

He was one of the first DJs on BBC Radio & in his time presented Radio Rhythm Club, Housewives Choice, was an early celebrity on Desert Island Discs and for a brief period formed the resident band on the popular BBC's Crackerjack childre'ns programme.. He toured the UK, Europe & India entertaining the troops during WW2 & afterwards until his sudden & unexpected death in 1956.

He was remembered on the 22nd January 2012 on Radio 2 in an evening show with a dedication and one of his records played on which he sang and this evening on the 28th January 2012 one of his most famous records "Parry Opus" was played.

My thanks to the latest generation of BBC presenters for honouring him thus.

Mike Tayler (nephew)