Arthur Pryor facts for kids
Arthur Willard Pryor (born September 22, 1869 – died June 18, 1942) was a very talented trombone player. He was also a famous bandleader and played many solos with the well-known Sousa Band. Pryor wrote many pieces of music for bands. His most famous song is "The Whistler and His Dog." Later in his life, he became a politician for the Democratic Party in New Jersey. He served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in the 1930s.
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Arthur Pryor's Early Life
Arthur Pryor was born on September 22, 1869, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. His father, Samuel Pryor, was also a bandmaster and started the first Pryor band. Arthur began learning music at a very young age from his father. He was playing the valve trombone by the time he was 11 years old. He practiced a lot and became so good that he earned a spot in John Philip Sousa's band. People called him a child prodigy because of his amazing talent at such a young age.
Pryor's Amazing Musical Career
Arthur Pryor directed the Stanley Opera Company in Denver, before joining the John Philip Sousa Band in 1892. He played his first solo with the Sousa Band when he was 22. This happened during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. During his 12 years with the Sousa Band, Pryor played an estimated 10,000 solos!
From 1895 to 1903, Pryor was also the assistant conductor for the Sousa Band. He traveled all over the USA and Europe with the "March King," John Philip Sousa. While in Europe, he played his trombone solos for important people like King Edward VII of England and Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Once, in Germany, all the trombonists from the German Army bands were told to come hear him play. They were so surprised by his playing that they insisted on taking his trombone apart. They couldn't believe anyone could play so well naturally! One German even said, "No one can play so well. It is a Yankee trick."
In 1902, after his father passed away, Pryor left the Sousa Band. He then took over his father's reorganized Pryor band. The band's first show was at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on November 15, 1903. For the next 30 years, Pryor's band was a very famous part of American music. He first played in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in 1904. He continued to play there until 1930. The Pryor Band toured until 1909, when Arthur decided to make Asbury Park the band's home. Around this time, he also became a conductor and arranger for the Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey. He also started a second band that played at the entertainment complex of Coney Island, New York, for several years.
Later Life and Family
Arthur Pryor stopped conducting full-time in 1933. On November 7 of that year, he was elected to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. This is a local government position in New Jersey. He served one three-year term in this role.
Pryor was married to Maude Russell Pryor. They had three sons. Their son Roger Pryor (1901–1974) also became a bandleader and a film actor. His other sons were Arthur Jr., who became a bandsman and advertising executive, and Samuel Pryor.
Arthur Pryor had a stroke on June 17, 1942. He passed away the next day, June 18, at his home in West Long Branch, New Jersey. His funeral was held on June 21, 1942, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park. He was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch.
Arthur Pryor's Musical Legacy
Pryor wrote about 300 musical pieces. These included marches, fun novelty songs, and even three light operas. Some of his most famous works are "On Jersey Shore," "Queen Titania," and "The Whistler and His Dog." He also started working on an opera called Peter and Paul. The story for this opera was written by L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Sadly, the story for the opera has been lost.
During his career, Pryor wrote some of the most well-known music for the trombone today. This includes his arrangement of the famous "Bluebells of Scotland." He also wrote fun band pieces like "The Whistler and His Dog," which features a special piccolo solo. This is his most famous composition. Many of his works have been recorded by trombonist Ian Bousfield on his CD Pryor Engagement.
In 1985, thousands of Arthur Pryor's early musical scores were found by conductor Rick Benjamin. Rick Benjamin has played many of Pryor's compositions with his Paragon Ragtime Orchestra.
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