Harry Roy 1900-1971

Whether you were in the plush surroundings of the Mayfair Hotel or tuning in on the wireless to listen, when you heard the opening bars of Bugle Call Rag you knew you were in for a treat.

Harry Roy fronted one of the very best dance bands of the 1930s. More of a showman than most of the band leaders (with perhaps only Billy Cotton in the same league) he fronted the band, leading them in numbers from slow foxtrots to quicksteps and tangos, silly numbers and serious and with a vast number of recordings to his name he still comes across on his records nearly forty years after his death as one of the great personalities of the British Dance Band era.

At the moment I have nearly a complete collection of Harry's recorded material mostly on 78s and including some unissued material and I intend to appeal for missing items through this site when I know what is missing.

I fully intend to expand this website as time allows, but if you wish any further information please write (the society has no email - sorry) to

The Harry Roy Appreciation Society, 43 Repton Close, Luton, Bedfordshire, England. LU3 3UL 

Membership is £5.00 a year at the time of writing. The society was formed in 1972 and Harry's son David is now the President.

They issue "The Bugle Call Rag" newsletter, which has news of reissues of 78s on CD and articles on Harry Roy and his Orchestra. 

They have two meetings a year in central London.