Member of the 'The Searchlight Singers', whose group won the talent contest at the Apollo Theatre in 1947, his booming baritone voice made him a 50s hitmaker of gospel flavored pop tunes including You'll Never Walk Alone (R&B#1, 1954) and Unchained Melody (R&B#1,1955). On top of the gospel and rhythm and blues charts in the 1950's, he retired for several years due to exhaustion 1955 to 1958.
In his comeback attempt, his career waned in the 1960s. A resident of New Rochelle, New York, after open heart surgery on July 19, 1969, Roy did not recover, and died on July 20, 1969 at age 40. He is buried on yards from Malcolm X in the Pineland section of Ferncliff Cemetery. His widow survived him.
In his comeback attempt, his career waned in the 1960s. A resident of New Rochelle, New York, after open heart surgery on July 19, 1969, Roy did not recover, and died on July 20, 1969 at age 40. He is buried on yards from Malcolm X in the Pineland section of Ferncliff Cemetery. His widow survived him.
Member of the 'The Searchlight Singers', whose group won the talent contest at the Apollo Theatre in 1947, his booming baritone voice made him a 50s hitmaker of gospel flavored pop tunes including You'll Never Walk Alone (R&B#1, 1954) and Unchained Melody (R&B#1,1955). On top of the gospel and rhythm and blues charts in the 1950's, he retired for several years due to exhaustion 1955 to 1958.
In his comeback attempt, his career waned in the 1960s. A resident of New Rochelle, New York, after open heart surgery on July 19, 1969, Roy did not recover, and died on July 20, 1969 at age 40. He is buried on yards from Malcolm X in the Pineland section of Ferncliff Cemetery. His widow survived him.
In his comeback attempt, his career waned in the 1960s. A resident of New Rochelle, New York, after open heart surgery on July 19, 1969, Roy did not recover, and died on July 20, 1969 at age 40. He is buried on yards from Malcolm X in the Pineland section of Ferncliff Cemetery. His widow survived him.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
