Roy Massey was born in Birmingham, England and was educated at Moseley Grammar School, Birmingham, and the University of Birmingham. He took the Birmingham degree of BMus and holds the diplomas of FRCO(CHM), and ADCM.

He was organist of St Alban-the-Martyr, Bordesley, Birmingham (1953–1960) and St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston, Birmingham (1960–1965). He became warden of the Royal School of Church Music (1965–1968) as well as organist of Croydon Parish Church (now Croydon Minster). From 1968-1974 he was organist of St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham, and director of music at King Edward's School, Birmingham. Massey was elected a fellow of the Royal School of Church Music (FRSCM) in 1972 and in 1975 a fellow of St. Michael's College, Tenbury.

From 1974 to 2001 he was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Hereford Cathedral. During his time at Hereford, he was nine times conductor-in-chief of the Three Choirs Festival, where he commissioned and conducted the premieres of several works by British composers.

He was awarded the Lambeth degree of DMus in 1990 and appointed MBE in 1997.

Following his retirement in 2001, Massey became president of the Royal College of Organists (2003–2005).^[3] He remains active as a concert organist, and gave the opening recital on the newly-rebuilt organ at Hereford Cathedral in 2005.