Massey was born in Mudgee, New South Wales, the second of five sons of Joseph Richard Massey, aka Joseph Massey sen. (July 1827 – 14 February 1900) and Mary Massey, ne Patrick (c. 1835–1898).
His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Sarah Massey who emigrated from London to Sydney aboard Richard Reynolds, arriving 14 August 1833.[7]
He had four brothers, all organists: Joseph jun., Arthur, Edward and Thomas, as were two grandsons: Victor and Noel Massey (further information at Joseph Massey sen.)
In 1887 Massey founded a Liedertafel in Parramatta[9] and acted as its conductor.
Massey served as organist at St John's Church of England in Glebe in the early 1900s before being appointed organist and choirmaster at St Clement's Church of England, Mosman, from 1903 to 1917.[10]
^"Glebe Musical Society". Evening News. No. 9104. New South Wales, Australia. 8 August 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 9 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"New Music". The Daily Telegraph. No. 7349. New South Wales, Australia. 27 December 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Local and General". The Cumberland Mercury. Vol. XXI, no. 1362. New South Wales, Australia. 4 December 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The Haymakers". The Weekly Advance. No. 23. New South Wales, Australia. 8 July 1892. p. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.