Lilian Patricia Lita Roza (14 March 1926 – 14 August 2008) was an English singer best known for her 1953 recording "
(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
"(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song. It was written by Bob Merrill and first registered on September 25, 1952, as "The Doggie in the Window". On January 27, 1953, its sheet music was published in New York as "( ...
", which reached No. 1 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. She was the first British woman to have a No. 1 hit in the UK chart.
Early life and career
Lilian Patricia Lita Roza was born in
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
on 14 March 1926, the eldest of seven children. She began work at an early age to support the family. She owed her sultry looks and passion to her father, an amateur accordionist and pianist of Filipino descent who played in Liverpool nightclubs.
At the age of 12, she saw an advert in the local newspaper 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 the comedian and fellow Merseysider Ted Ray. When she was 16, she answered an advertisement and got a job as a singer in the "New Yorker" club in Southport for £5 per week. Soon afterwards she signed up with the
Harry Roy
Harry Roy (12 January 1900 – 1 February 1971) was a British dance band leader and clarinet player from the 1920s to the 1960s. He performed several songs with suggestive lyrics, including " My Girl's Pussy" (1931), and " She Had to Go and Lose ...
Orchestra in London, moving on to work with other bands of the era, including that of
Edmundo Ros
Edmundo Ros OBE, FRAM (7 December 1910 – 21 October 2011), born Edmund William Ross, was a Trinidadian-Venezuelan musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader who made his career in Britain. He directed a highly popular Latin American orchestr ...
.
By the time she was 18, Roza had left show business, married an American and moved to Miami, Florida. However, the marriage did not last, and shortly after the Second World War, she returned to the United Kingdom. In 1950, she became the lead female singer with the
Ted Heath
Sir Edward Richard George Heath (9 July 191617 July 2005), often known as Ted Heath, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. Heath a ...
Band, and by 1954, had achieved enough public acclaim to leave the band and pursue a solo recording career.
Roza's "
(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
"(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song. It was written by Bob Merrill and first registered on September 25, 1952, as "The Doggie in the Window". On January 27, 1953, its sheet music was published in New York as "( ...
", a cover version of
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler (November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013), known professionally as Patti Page, was an American singer and actress. Primarily known for pop and country music, she was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female ar ...
's original, was the peak of her career, topping the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. It made her the first British woman to have a No. 1 hit in the UK chart. Further covers of "
Hey There
"Hey There" is a show tune from the musical play ''The Pajama Game,'' written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It was published in 1954. It was introduced by John Raitt in the original production.
In the show, Sid sings it to a recording dev ...
" and "Jimmy Unknown" gave her small hits in the mid-1950s. Roza disliked her hit single so much that she never performed it live.
Personal life and death
In 1956, she married the trumpet player Ronnie Hughes. She remained a top UK recording artist during the remainder of the 1950s and was voted the Top British Female Singer in the ''New Musical Express'' poll winners' charts from 1951 to 1955. ''Melody Maker'' readers also voted her its Top Girl Singer in the dance band section of the poll in 1951 and 1952.
Roza made three appearances in UK heats for the
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
selection in
1957
1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th y ...
,
1959
Events January
* January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance.
* January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...
Cavern Club
The Cavern Club is a nightclub on Mathew Street, Liverpool, England.
The Cavern Club opened in 1957 as a jazz club, later becoming a centre of the rock and roll scene in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 1960s. The club became closely assoc ...
on
Mathew Street
Mathew Street is a street in Liverpool, England, notable as the location of the new Cavern Club, the Beatles having played in the original club on numerous occasions in their early career.
Mathew Street is visited by thousands of tourists a ...
in Liverpool with Roza's presiding at the ceremony.
On 28 November 2002, she gave her last public performance on
Radio Merseyside
BBC Radio Merseyside is the BBC's local radio station serving Merseyside.
It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and via BBC Sounds, from studios on Hanover Street in Liverpool.
According to RAJAR, the station has a weekly audience of 203,00 ...
. A 22 track ''The Best of Lita Roza'' was released in 2007.
Roza died at her home in London on 14 August 2008 at the age of 82.
In tribute,
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
said that "we just don't make singers like Lita Roza anymore".
I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" is a song from the musical ''South Pacific'', sung by Nellie Forbush, the female lead, originally played by Mary Martin in the 1949 Broadway production. Her character, fed up with a man (Emile De Becque) ...
" / "
A Wonderful Guy
"A Wonderful Guy" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical '' South Pacific.'' It was first introduced by Mary Martin in the original Broadway production and sung by Mitzi Gaynor in the 1958 film adaptation.
In the show, Nel ...
"
*1952 "My Very Good Friend – The Milkman" / "Colonel Bogey"
*1952 "
Oakie Boogie
"Oakie Boogie" (sometimes "Okie Boogie") is a Western swing dance song written by Johnny Tyler in 1947. It is recognizable by its refrain:
Jack Guthrie's version (Capitol 341) reached number three on the charts in 1947 and is often included in ...
" / "Raminay"
*1952 "Love, Where Are You Now?" / " High Noon"
*1953 "
(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
"(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song. It was written by Bob Merrill and first registered on September 25, 1952, as "The Doggie in the Window". On January 27, 1953, its sheet music was published in New York as "( ...
" / "Tell Me We'll Meet Again" – UK No. 1
*1953 "
Seven Lonely Days
"Seven Lonely Days" is a song written by Earl Shuman, Alden Shuman, and Marshall Brown. It was originally recorded by American singer Georgia Gibbs with orchestra conducted by Glenn Osser and the Yale Bros. choir in December 1952 and released in ...
" / "No-one Will Ever Know"
*1953 "
Crazy Man, Crazy
"Crazy Man, Crazy" was the title of an early rock and roll song written by, and first recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets in April 1953. It is notable as the first recognized rock and roll recording to appear on the national American musical chart ...
" / "Oo! What You Do to Me"
*1954 "
Changing Partners
"Changing Partners" is a pop song with music by Larry Coleman and lyrics by Joe Darion, published in 1953. The best-known recording was made by Patti Page. It was also recorded the same year by Dinah Shore, Kay Starr and Bing Crosby.
Hit ve ...
" / "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)
"Two Hearts", or "Two Hearts, Two Kisses (Make One Love)" is a popular music, popular song, written by Otis Williams and the Charms, Otis Williams and Henry Stone in 1954 in music, 1954.
It was originally recorded by Otis Williams and the Charms, i ...
" / "Keep Me in Mind"
*1955 "
The Man in the Raincoat
''The Man in the Raincoat'' (french: L'Homme à l'imperméable) is a French-Italian comedy-thriller film directed by Julien Duvivier, scripted by the director and René Barjavel, from the 1954 novel '' Tiger by the Tail'' by James Hadley Chas ...
" / "Today and Ev'ry Day"
*1955 "
Hey There
"Hey There" is a show tune from the musical play ''The Pajama Game,'' written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It was published in 1954. It was introduced by John Raitt in the original production.
In the show, Sid sings it to a recording dev ...
" / "
Hernando's Hideaway
"Hernando's Hideaway" is a tango show tune, largely in long metre, from the musical ''The Pajama Game'', written by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler and published in 1954. It was sung in the stage and film versions of the musical by Carol Haney. The s ...
" – UK No. 17
*1956 "Jimmy Unknown" / "The Rose Tattoo" – UK No. 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
Lucky Lips is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally recorded by Ruth Brown in 1956 and was successfully covered by Cliff Richard in 1963.
Ruth Brown and early cover versions
The song was first recorded by the R&B si ...
" / "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
"You've Changed" is a popular song published in 1942 with music by Carl Fischer and words by Bill Carey. The melody features descending chromaticism. The song was first recorded on October 24, 1941 by Harry James & His Orchestra (vocal by Dick H ...
"
*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
"I Could Have Danced All Night" is a song from the musical ''My Fair Lady'', with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner,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 "Maybe You'll Be There" is a popular music, popular song composed by Rube Bloom, with lyrics written by Sammy Gallop. The song was published in 1947 in music, 1947.
The recording by Gordon Jenkins was released by Decca Records as catalog number 244 ...
"
*1965 "What Am I Supposed to Do" / "Where Do I Go from Here"
*1965 "Keep Watch Over Him" / "Stranger Things Have Happened"
EPs
*1956 ''Lita Roza''
*1957 ''Lita Roza No.2''
*1958 ''Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea''
Albums
*1955 ''Listening in the After-Hours''
*1956 ''Love Is the Answer''
*1960 ''Drinka Lita Roza Day'' recorded on 4 May 1960
Film
Roza appeared in one feature film, as a singer in ''
Cast a Dark Shadow
''Cast a Dark Shadow'' is a 1955 black-and-white British suspense film noir directed by Lewis Gilbert, based on the play ''Murder Mistaken'' by Janet Green. The story concerns a husband played by Dirk Bogarde who murders his wife.
Plot
After ...
'', 1955
Recorded output
In addition to those tracks listed above, Roza's recorded output included covers of songs such as "
Why Don't You Believe Me?
"Why Don't You Believe Me?" is a popular song written by Lew Douglas, King Laney, and Roy Rodde and published in 1952.
A recording by Joni James ( MGM Records catalog number 11333) reached No. 1 on the '' Billboard'' charts for four weeks in ...
", "
Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.
Among humans, a smile expresses ...
", "
That Old Black Magic
"That Old Black Magic" is a 1942 popular song written by Harold Arlen (music), with the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. They wrote it for the 1942 film '' Star Spangled Rhythm'', when it was sung by Johnny Johnston and danced by Vera Zorina. The song ...
", "
Have You Heard?
"Have You Heard?" is a popular song written by Lew Douglas, Frank LaVere and LeRoy W. Rodde and published in 1952. The biggest hit version was recorded by Joni James in 1952, charting the next year. The recording by Joni James was released ...
Too Marvelous for Words
"Too Marvelous for Words" is a popular song written in 1937. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics for music composed by Richard Whiting. It was introduced by Wini Shaw and Ross Alexander in the 1937 Warner Brothers film '' Ready, Willing and Able'', ...
" and "
The Mama Doll Song "The Mama Doll Song" is a popular music song that was written by Nat Simon with lyrics by Charles Tobias. It was published in 1954. A recording by Patti Page was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70458. It first reached the Billboard mag ...
".
See also
*
List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
This is a list of artists who have reached number one on the UK Singles Chart as recorded by the Official Charts Company.
Artists are listed alphabetically, solo artists are listed by surname and groups are listed by full names excluding "the" o ...
*
List of artists under the Decca Records label
Decca Records is a recording label. A division of Universal Classics, it is also known as ''Decca Music Group''.
Classical
Vocal artists
* Roberto Alagna
* Ada Alsop
* Elly Ameling
* Arleen Auger
* Janet Baker
* Cecilia Bartoli
* Teresa Berga ...
*
Music of Liverpool
Liverpool has a lengthy tradition of music both classical and pop. It is well known for the Beatles (who recorded 17 UK and 20 US number-one singles). Its pop and rock music scene has also been important in the development of a number of ot ...