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Arthur Willard Pryor (September 22, 1869 – June 18, 1942) was a
trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...
virtuoso,
bandleader A bandleader is the leader of a music group such as a rock or pop band or jazz quartet. The term is most commonly used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or ...
, and soloist with the Sousa Band. He was a prolific composer of band music, his best-known composition being "The Whistler and His Dog". In later life, he became a
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politician from
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, who served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.


Early life and education

He was born on September 22, 1869 on the second floor of the Lyceum Theater in
Saint Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri. Small parts of St. Joseph extend into Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the principal city of the St. Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area, which inclu ...
. He was the son of Samuel Pryor, bandmaster and founder of the original Pryor band, and his wife. Arthur first took up music at a very young age under the tutelage of his father and was playing the
valve trombone A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fittings ...
by age 11. The story goes that whenever he hit a sour note while practicing, his father planted a resounding crack on his head with a violin bow. The boy developed until he was so skilled that he won a place in the John Philip Sousa's band. He was hailed as a
prodigy Prodigy, Prodigies or The Prodigy may refer to: * Child prodigy, a child who produces meaningful output to the level of an adult expert performer ** Chess prodigy, a child who can beat experienced adult players at chess Arts, entertainment, and ...
after this.


Musical career

Pryor went on to direct the Stanley Opera Company in
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,
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until joining the
John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to dist ...
Band in 1892. He played his first solo with the Sousa Band at age 22 during the 1893
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in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
. During his 12 years with the Sousa Band, Pryor estimated that he played 10,000 solos. From 1895 to 1903, Pryor was assistant conductor of the Sousa Band. During his association with the "March King", Pryor toured throughout the USA and Europe. While in Europe, he entertained King Edward VII of England and Czar Nicholas II of Russia with his trombone solos. Once while in Germany, all the trombonists of the German Army bands were ordered to hear him play. They were so amazed at his playing that they insisted on taking his trombone apart, refusing to believe that it was natural. Finally one German said: "No one can play so well. It is a Yankee trick." In 1902 after the death of his father, Pryor ended his association with Sousa and took over the reorganized Pryor band; he led its debut at the
Majestic Theatre Majestic Theatre or Majestic Theater may refer to: Australia * Majestic Theatre, Adelaide, former name of a theatre in King William Street, Adelaide, built 1916, now demolished * Majestic Theatre, Launceston, a former cinema in Tasmania designed b ...
in
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on November 15, 1903. For 30 years thereafter, Pryor's band was an American institution. He made his first appearance in
Asbury Park, New Jersey Asbury Park () is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 15,188
at the Shore in 1904, where he continued to play until 1930. The Pryor Band toured until 1909, when he decided to settle down and make Asbury Park the home of the band. Also at this time, he became a staff conductor and arranger for the
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in
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. He organized a second band that played at the entertainment complex of
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, for a number of years.


Post-conducting career and death

Pryor retired from full-time conducting in 1933. On November 7 of that year, he and Henry W. Herbert were elected to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, defeating Director Bryant B. Newcomb and his running mate, Arthur Johnson. Pryor and Herbert would each serve one, three-year term in office. In the 1936 election, they were defeated by Republicans J. Russell Woolley and Edgar O. Murphy. Pryor was married to Maude Russell Pryor. Their son
Roger Pryor Roger Atkinson Pryor (July 19, 1828 – March 14, 1919) was a Virginian newspaper editor and politician who became known for his fiery oratory in favor of secession; he was elected both to national and Confederate office, and served as a gen ...
(1901–1974) also became a bandleader and a film actor. They also had sons Arthur Jr., who became a bandsman and advertising executive, and Samuel Pryor. The senior Pryor suffered a stroke on June 17, 1942, and died on June 18 at his home in
West Long Branch, New Jersey West Long Branch is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 8,097, Funeral services were conducted June 21, 1942, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, followed by burial in Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch.


Legacy

Pryor composed some 300 works, including marches, novelties, tone poems and three light operas, ''Jinga Boo'', ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' and ''On the Eve of Her Wedding Day''. Among his best-known numbers were "On Jersey Shore", "Queen Titania" and "The Whistler and His Dog". He set to work on an
opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
titled ''Peter and Paul'', with a
libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
by
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; the libretto has been lost. It was intended to star
Fred Stone Fred Andrew Stone (August 19, 1873 – March 6, 1959) was an American actor. Stone began his career as a performer in circuses and minstrel shows, went on to act in vaudeville, and became a star on Broadway and in feature films, which earned h ...
and David Montgomery in several roles in several time periods. During his career, Pryor wrote some of today's most well-known trombone literature, including an arrangement of the heralded "
Bluebells of Scotland The Bluebells of Scotland is the usual modern name for a Scottish folksong (Roud Folk Song Index, Roud # 13849). It was written by Dora Jordan, an English actress and writer. First published in 1801. Text As with most folk songs, it exists in m ...
", as well as band novelty works such as "The Whistler and His Dog", with its
piccolo The piccolo ( ; Italian for 'small') is a half-size flute and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. Sometimes referred to as a "baby flute" the modern piccolo has similar fingerings as the standard transverse flute, but the so ...
solo, his best-known composition."Arthur Pryor, Bandsman, Dies" (June 18, 1942) '' Emporia Daily Gazette'',
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Much of this literature has been recorded by Ian Bousfield on his CD ''Pryor Engagement'' (Doyen DOY CD212). In 1985, thousands of early Pryor scores were discovered by conductor Rick Benjamin. He has played many of Pryor's compositions with his
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Rick Benjamin is the founder and conductor of the world-renowned Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Benjamin has an active career as a pianist and tubist as well as an arranger. Early Interest in Ragtime Music Benjamin's interest in ragtime music began in ...
."Old movie, live music to pair," ''
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'' (
Burlington, Iowa Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of, Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 23,982 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in 2000. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area, which includes ...
), Feb 13, 2011


Media


References


External links

*
List of Works by Arthur Willard Pryor
at Geoff Grainger's Webpages
Biography of Arthur Pryor
at Bill Edwards' Ragtime Site

includes a solo by Pryor recorded in 1897

Dillon's Music On Arthur Pryor's Trombone
The Asbury Park Boardwalk
Past, Present and Future

Paragon Ragtime - explains how Arthur Pryor introduced syncopation to military marches and became a proponent of Ragtime music.

* ttps://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103262 Arthur Pryor recordingsat the
Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...
.
audio recording of "Canhanibalmo Rag"
Library of Congress jukebox {{DEFAULTSORT:Pryor, Arthur 1869 births 1942 deaths People from St. Joseph, Missouri American bandleaders American classical trombonists Male trombonists Victor Records artists County commissioners in New Jersey New Jersey Democrats Pioneer recording artists Ragtime composers Burials in New Jersey People from West Long Branch, New Jersey Jersey Shore musicians Classical musicians from New Jersey