Roy Alfred

Roy Alfred (May 14, 1916 – 2008) was an American Tin Pan Alley lyricist whose successful songs included "The Hucklebuck", "Rock and Roll Waltz", "Who Can Explain?", and "Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)".

His first major success as a lyricist was "The Best Man", written with Fred Wise, and a hit for Nat "King" Cole in 1946. In 1949, Alfred wrote the words for "The Hucklebuck", a tune originally written as an instrumental credited to Andy Gibson, which was first recorded by Paul Williams and his Hucklebuckers. The vocal version became a hit for Roy Milton, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and Frank Sinatra in 1949, and was later also successful for Chubby Checker (1960) and in Britain for Coast to Coast (1981).

Alfred also wrote the lyrics for "Kee-Mo Ky-Mo", written with Bob Hilliard in 1949, and continued to write successfully through the 1950s and 1960s, often writing novelty lyrics. One of his most successful lyrics was "Rock and Roll Waltz", composed by Shorty Allen and an international hit for Kay Starr in 1955. Alfred's other successes included "Wisdom of a Fool" (written with Abner Silver, 1956), "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On" (written with Del Serino, 1961), and "Let's Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key)", written with Wes Farrell and a hit for Jay and the Americans in 1964.

He set up the Jonroy music publishing company in 1988, and died in 2008.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 14, 1916, Died 2008

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-0651 10-in. 3/12/1947 You don't learn that in school Louis Armstrong Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D7VB-2716 10-in. 12/19/1947 A woman always understands Garry Stevens ; Tex Beneke Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D7VB-2878 10-in. 12/19/1947 It's the sentimental thing to do Vaughn Monroe ; Moon Maids ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal group and jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D9VB-0980 10-in. 3/22/1949 The huckle-buck Charlie Shavers ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D9VB-1961 10-in. 10/12/1949 The huckle buck June Carter Cash ; Homer and Jethro Mixed vocal trio, with string band lyricist  
Victor D9VB-2128 10-in. 8/4/1949 Cut off the fat (take out the bone) Johnny Moore ; Three Blazers (Johnny Moore) Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet songwriter  
Victor D9AB-2617 10-in. 12/21/1949 Don't do something to someone else Jerry Fielding Orchestra ; Lucy Ann Polk Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Alfred, Roy," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355530.

Alfred, Roy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355530.

"Alfred, Roy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355530

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