A MUSICAL PRODIGY FROM SOUTH WALES

About the Book

Harry Parr-Davies was no more than a name to me until I saw the documentary play about Gracie Fields and realised that the songs Sing as We Go, Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye, Pedro the Fisherman, and I Leave My Heart in an English Garden were all composed by the same man. This set me about discovering more about him. Consulting the internet, I discovered a web-site and even more importantly was given Gabrielle Bell’s CD of Harry’s music covering the styles and sounds of 30’s, 40’s and 50’s I also gathered as many items of second sheetmusi and two vocal scores. After compiling a family genealogy I now start to collate my material into biographical form so I could explore the man and his music set against the times he lived in. I consulted local libraries for Groves and Dictionary of National Biography. Giving more personal detail were the archives in Neath and West Glamorgan Libraries . even more usefully I came across accounts of the 2005 Exhibition in Neath about Harry which Edward Beckerleg had mounted with the help of late Bill Hanks. I contacted them both and they were helpful. Sadly Bill died, but Edwardhas provided with copies of material on the boards he had done for the exhibition. Even more importantly, he posted to me CD’s of Harry’s music covering the styles and sounds of 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. He in addition, sent me a selection of his photographs concerning Harry to use in my book. (see those use in the list below.)

About the Author