1. Betty Roe's father was a fishmonger at the Shepherd's Bush Market, and her mother was a bookkeeper.
11 Facts About Betty Roe
1. 2.
Betty Roe began writing music and arrangements in her teens during World War II when assisting with choirs at the local church.
3.
Betty Roe continued at the Royal Academy in 1949, studying piano with York Bowen, cello with Alison Dalrymple, and voice with Jean McKenzie-Grieve.
4.
Betty Roe continued her study of singing with Clive Carey, Roy Hickman, Peter van der Stolk, and Margaret Field-Hyde, and studied composition with Lennox Berkeley.
5.
Betty Roe worked as a sessions singer with London ensembles, and in light entertainment with celebrities including Cliff Richard, Harry Secombe, Cilla Black, The Two Ronnies and on Top of the Pops.
6.
Betty Roe founded Thames Publishing with her husband in 1970.
7.
Betty Roe received an MBE for services to Classical Music and Composition in the 2011 New Year Honours.
8.
Betty Roe has composed over 300 solo songs, as well as choral and sacred music, musicals, operas, instrumental pieces, and music for schools.
9.
Betty Roe herself has cited the Three Herrick Songs for soprano and wind quintet as "one of the best things I have written".
10.
Betty Roe's compositions have been recorded and issued on CD, including:.
11.
Betty Roe has worked in partnership with librettist Marian Lines to produce six operas, twelve musicals, a pantomime, and a number of choral works.