Lita Roza

Lita Roza (14 March 1926 – 14 August, 2008) was a British singer. Her 1953 number one hit record "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" afforded Roza the privilege of being the first British female singer to top the UK Singles Chart, and the first Liverpudlian to do so.

Biography

Born Lilian Patricia Lita Roza in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK, she was the eldest of seven children. and began work at an early age to support the family. She owed her sultry looks and Latin passion, to her Spanish father, an amateur accordionist who also played piano in several Liverpool nightclubs.

At the age of 12 she saw an advertisement in the local newspapers for juvenile dancers and passed the audition. She took to the stage at that age in a pantomime and by the time she was 15 was working with fellow Merseysider comedian, Ted Ray.

By 16 (at the height of the Nazi Blitz-bombing raids on Liverpool) she answered another advert, when she managed to secure a job as a singer in the "New Yorker" - a Southport, Lancashire club. She got that job at £5 a week, then shortly afterwards signed up with the Harry Roy Orchestra in London. She moved on from this to work with other bands of the era including that of Edmundo Ros.

By the time she was 18 war-ravaged London was still a dangerous place to work and she had decided to retire from show business - choosing marriage to an American and a life in Miami, Florida.

However, the marriage did not last and shortly after World War II Roza returned to the UK. In 1950 she became the lead female singer with the Ted Heath Band, and by 1954 had achieved enough public acclaim to leave the band and pursue a solo recording career on her own.

For Roza, whose "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" was a cover version of Patti Page's original, this was the peak of her career. The track was produced by Dick Rowe. Further covers of "Hey There" and "Jimmy Unknown" gave her small hits in the mid-1950s, but her career as Ted Heath's vocalist was knocked hard by the onslaught of rock and roll a year or two later. Her chart-topping single was produced by Dick Rowe. Roza disliked the song so much she never performed it live on stage.

In 1956 she married the trumpet player, Ronnie Harris.

She remained a top UK recording artist during the remainder of the 1950s, but her subsequent recordings never recaptured the magic she had shown while with Ted Heath.

She was consecutively voted the 'Top British Female Singer' in the New Musical Express poll winners' charts from 1951 to 1955. Melody Maker readers also voted her their 'Top Girl Singer' in the dance band section of their polls in 1951 and 1952.

Roza made three appearances in the UK heats for selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, in 1957, 1959 and 1960.

On 14 March 2001, the Liverpool Wall of Fame was inaugurated opposite the famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street, in Liverpool, with Roza presiding at the ceremony.

On 28 November 2002 in Liverpool, she gave her last public performance on Radio Merseyside. A 22 track The Best Of Lita Roza was released in 2007.

Beginning with Roza when her record "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" reached number one in 1953, Liverpool artists have reached the top of the chart on 57 occasions. The most recent number one was Atomic Kitten's "The Tide is High" in 2002.

Lita Roza died peacefully at home on 14 August 2008, aged 82.

Quotation

"We just don't make singers like Lita Roza anymore" - Elton John.

Discography

Singles

1951 "Allentown Jail" / "I Wish I Knew"
1951 "I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair" / "A Wonderful Guy"
1952 "Oakie Boogie" / "Raminay"
1953 "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" / "Tell Me We'll Meet Again" - UK #1
1953 "Seven Lonely Days" / "No-one Will Ever Know"
1953 "Crazy Man, Crazy" / "Oo! What You Do To Me"
1954 "Changing Partners" / "Just A Dream Or Two Ago"
1954 "Make Love To Me" / "Bell Bottom Blues"
1954 "Secret Love" / "Young At Heart"
1954 "Skinnie Minnie (Fishtail)" / "My Kid Brother"
1954 "Call Off the Wedding" / "The 'Mama Doll' Song"
1955 "Heartbeat" / "Leave Me Alone"
1955 "Let Me Go Lover" / "Make Yourself Comfortable"
1955 "Tomorrow" / "Foolishly"
1955 "Two Hearts, Two Kisses (Make One Love)" / "Keep Me in Mind"
1955 "The Man In The Raincoat" / "Today and Ev'ry Day"
1955 "Hey There" / "Hernando's Hideaway" - UK #17
1956 "Jimmy Unknown" / "The Rose Tattoo" - UK #15
1956 "Too Young To Go Steady" / "You're Not Alone"
1956 "No Time For Tears" / "But Love Me (Love But Me)"
1956 "Innismore" / "The Last Waltz"
1956 "Hey! Jealous Lover" / "Julie"
1957 "Lucky Lips" / "Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them"
1957 "Tonight My Heart She Is Crying" / "Five Oranges Four Apples"
1957 "I Need You" / "You've Changed"
1958 "Pretend You Don't See Him" / "Ha-Ha-Ha!"
1958 "I Need Somebody" / "You're The Greatest"
1958 "I Could Have Danced All Night" / "The Wonderful Season Of Love"
1958 "Sorry, Sorry, Sorry" / "Hillside in Scotland"
1958 "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" / "It's A Boy"
1959 "This Is My Town" / "Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be"
1959 "Allentown Jail" / "Once In A While"
1959 "Let It Rain Let It Rain" / " Maybe You'll Be There"
1965 "What Am I Supposed To Do" / "Where Do I Go From Here"
1965 "Keep Watch Over Him" / "Stranger Things Have Happened"