Harry and his brother Syd formed a band which they called The Darnswells. When the Original Dixieland Jazz Band left the Hammersmith Palais, they were replaced by the Roy Brothers Original Lyrical Five. They again changed name, becoming the Original Crichton Lyricals. At times, the band recorded as "The Lyricals", "Sid Roy's Crichton Lyricals", and just "The Crichton Lyricals". Harry Roy later said that his idol was the clarinetist for the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Larry Shields. The Roy's band was very popular in London where they played all the better spots including the Alhambra; the London Coliseum; Rector's Club; Oddenino's; and the Cavour Restaurant.
In February 1927, they were booked into the Café de Paris. During 1928, they toured to South Africa and to Australia. In 1930 they made some recordings in Germany. In 1931, Harry Roy left to form his own band, with Syd becoming manager of the Harry Roy band. In 1932, the Harry Roy band was at the London Pavilion; in January 1933 they were at the Café Anglais, where they began remote BBC broadcasts. From July 1933 through June 1936, the band was resident in the May Fair Hotel. In 1935, Roy received publicity when he married H.H. Dayang Elizabet of Sarawak, the second daughter of Charles Vyner Brooke, the then Rajah of Sarawak. In 1935, the band was in the film Everything Is Rhythm and again in the 1936 film Rhythm Racketeer.
In 1938, Roy took his band on a three-month tour of South America. On October 16, 1939, the band was booked into the Café Anglais for a month. They then continued touring and theatre performances, going into the Embassy Club in October 1940. During the war years, Harry toured around. He was in the Embassy Club in 1942, and a little later, toured the Middle East. In 1948 Harry went to the U.S., but was unable to get a work permit. Returning to England, he formed a new band for the Café Anglais in 1949. By the early 1950s the big band era had come to an end. The band split up, but Roy still drifted in and out of the music scene. In the '50s, he was running his own restaurant. In 1969, he led a quartet in the London Lyric Theatre's show Oh Clarence. He was 69 years of age then, and in failing health. In February, 1971, he died in London.
He wrote and sang a Song in 1931 called My Girl's Pussy. It has been the subject of many covers and remakes along with being featured in Hollywood films, radio programs and blogs.
La Cucaracha
Harry Roy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sing no matter where you are
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Try it on your old guitar
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Sing no matter where you are
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
The lyrics to Harry Roy's song, La Cucaracha, are a Spanish folk song which translates to "The Cockroach". Cockroaches are seen as pests, however, this song celebrates them and encourages people to sing about them wherever they are. This anthem-like song represents the idea that regardless of your situation, you should always find something to sing about, even if that something is as insignificant and overlooked as a cockroach.
In addition to its optimistic message, this song also highlights the importance of heritage and tradition. The song was originally written during the Mexican Revolution as a political satire about Pancho Villa, a revolutionary general. The song, with its fast-paced rhythm and catchy melody, quickly became popular in Mexico and has since become an international symbol of Mexican culture. The song's lyrics have been adapted and translated into several languages and have been featured in countless films and television shows.
Line by Line Meaning
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
The cockroach, symbolizing perseverance, persists through any obstacle to reach its goal.
Sing no matter where you are
Regardless of circumstances or judgement from others, keep singing and expressing yourself.
Try it on your old guitar
Even if resources are limited, find a way to make music and create beauty in the world.
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
The repetition emphasizes the power and importance of the cockroach's message.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dp, Michael Herzer, Marc Hilger, Horst Schnebel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luizfernandosilveiradeoliveira
Lindo. 1935
@jeanboyadjoglou7725
mon morceau préféré de ce merveilleux orchestre
@jliscorpio
2:44 to 3:06 is the best. British Big Band meets Mexican Mariachi
@owenbrown2681
So much fun!