Roy L. Underwood was born April 3, 1896 in Agra, Kansas. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1917 from Bethany College. He did graduate work at Kansas City-Horner Conservatory of Music and at the Juilliard Graduate Music School. He received honorary Doctor of Music degrees in 1952 from both Bethany College and the Chicago Musical College.

Underwood served during World War One in the U. S. Marine Corps, Second Division, from July 12, 1917 until August 5, 1919. Underwood married Christine Swickard in 1921.

Before coming to Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1940, Underwood was supervisor of high school music in Holton, Kansas, an associate professor of piano at the University of Kansas, head of the piano department and later director at Ward-Belmont Conservatory in Nashville, Tennessee. At MSC, Underwood was the director of the Fine Arts division and head of the Music Department. He was instrumental in introducing the music therapy program which was the first of its kind in the world.

He was a member of many professional organizations including Phi Mu Alpha, Pi Kappa Lambda, the Music Teachers National Association, the National Association of Schools of Music and one of the founders of the National Association for Music Therapy. Underwood also was a member of the Lansing Kiwanis Club and the University Men's Club.

Roy Underwood retired from MSU in 1961. He passed away on November 27, 1990.