Arthur Pryor - Oh, Dry Those Tears

recorded 8/1907

Arthur Willard Pryor (September 22, 1870 June 18, 1942) was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band.

Pryor was born on the second floor of the Lyceum Theater in Saint Joseph, Missouri. He first took up music at a very young age and was playing the valve trombone by age 11. By age 15 he had mastered the slide trombone and was awarded a spot in his father's band. He was hailed as a prodigy after this. Shifted to another band, Pryor went on to direct the Stanley Opera Company in Denver, Colorado until joining the John Philip Sousa Band in 1892. He played his first solo with the Sousa Band at age 22 during the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. 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. After leaving the Sousa Band, he formed his own band, which made its debut at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on November 15, 1903. The Pryor Band toured until 1909, when he decided to settle down and make Asbury Park, New Jersey the home of the band. Also at this time he became a staff conductor and arranger for the Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey. (info from Wiki)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1907
• Arthur
• Pryor
• trombone
• virtuoso
• Victor
• 78rpm
• band
• jazz
• baroque

[cj614]

that vibrato...is crazy. i remember reading that it's a natural thing for him because of an accident where half his face was paralyzed. is that true?

[pax41]

@cj614 I have never heard that before but maybe another on here will know.

[Chelito7x7]

wow the way he channels his feelings with the trombone is outstanding...we should learn to do the same...

[pax41]

He certainly does!

[sewitt60]

That was superb! From 1907 as well. The timbre of his trombone playing is amazing! Thank you for posting!

[pax41]

Thank you for watching and glad to share this with you.

[ramenrage]

Arthur Pryor maintained a constant vibrato, not because he wanted to, but of a severe quiver in his bottom lip caused by a kick to the face by a horse when he was a child.

[TheJimmyHarrison]

Someone forgot to empty their spit valve before performing.

/sarcasm

[1976theusafband]

Knowing Mr. Pryor's penchant for good PR, I think the story about the injury to his mouth is, well, good PR designed to amaze other people. Listen how he control's the vibrato at the send of certain notes for musical effect. Rapid vibrato was just the standard in his day and it is still accepable for violinists, flutists, and sopranos and tenors in the opera. That's just my take on this controversy. Good PR!

[1976theusafband]

I knew a man who studied with Mr. Pryor on the top floor of the NBC Building back in the 1930's. Mr. Pryor insisted that his students learn a jaw vibrato of six pulses per beat, quarter note= 60 mm. That vibrato was intentional and for the day, kinda slow. Gosh, listen to flute players!

If Mr. Pryor was paralyzed, I dont' think he would have the control he evidences here nor would he have been able to execute those amazing intervals in his other works.

[1976theusafband]

I knew a man who studied with Mr. Pryor on the top floor of the NBC Building back in the 1930's. Mr. Pryor insisted that his students learn a jaw vibrato of six pulses per beat, quarter note= 60 mm. That vibrato was intentional and for the day, kinda slow. Gosh, listen to flute players!

[jstnukeit]

@cj614 When he was a kid, he was kicked in the face by a mule. he had the twitch because of it!



[MrITorrez]

@cj614 Yes that is true! On Amazon, I bought a CD with 26 recordings from the early 1900's with Arthur Pryor himself playing his songs, and in the booklet that came with it, it said that his vibrato was natural from an accident he had at an early age that caused part of his face to be paralyzed, I believe he was kicked by a mule.

[godoofakeman]

@cj614 yes he was kicked in the face by a mule when he was young paralyzing him

[godoofakeman]

oh dry those tears

yes dry those tears

dry those tears now

dont cry

""

if it had words it would be something like this

[supertromboneman]

@cj614 from what history tells us, yes its true. They say he got kicked in the face by a goat or mule or something and it paralyzed half of his face. creating a permanent vibrato.