Arthur Willard Pryor (1870-1942)
Last updated: 05.03.23
According to the Internet source given below, Arthur Willard Pryor was an American trombonist, bandleader and composer of popular music. The son the town bandmaster of St. Joseph, Missouri, he showed early musical talents in mastering the cornet, alto horn, valve trombone, drums, violin, bass viol and piano. He absorbed the prevalent fashion for the early ragtime music being in the close proximity of the likes of Scott Joplin, James Sylvester Scott and Percy Wenrich.
Pryor's dazzling career as a trombonist was initiated by being given a dilapidated slide trombone by his father, Samuel who accepted it as a debt repayment. This instrument was virtually unknown in the United States at that time so consequently the 15-year old Arthur Pryor was obliged to teach himself. In so doing after much diligent practice he mastered the slide trombone horn using only the top one-third length of the slide. It was some five years later that he learned from a casual acquaintance that the complete length of the slide could be used. Due to this unconventional self-tuition whereby he innovated his alternate positions in addition to the standard seven positions he was able to achieve fantastic speed and fluidity on his instrument becoming renowned as"the Boy Wonder of Missouri."
After touring with the great cornet soloist and bandmaster Allessandro Liberati (1847-1927) he was eventually invited to join John Philip Sousa in his newly-formed concert band in 1892. In his 11-year career with the Sousa Band he rapidly advanced from first trombonist, to lead soloist and then to assistant conductor in 1895. It was in this position that he started composing cakewalk successes such as successes Southern Hospitality (1899), and A Coon Band Contest (1899).In 1903 he resigned from Sousa's band to enter into business for himself as a composer/bandmaster and pioneer in the fledgling music recording industry at the Victor Talking Machine Company. The years at the company were the most fertile period for as a composer. Of his three-hundred original works, the most famous were created during this time including: On Jersey Shore (1904), Whistler and His Dog (1905), Triumph of Old Glory (1907) and Heart of America March (1916). Arthur Pryor eventually became so well known (and financially secure) in the early music recording industry that he no longer needed to give live concerts. He was one of the first to whom recording had become more important than the giving of live performances. His Arthur Pryor Band and Pryor's Concert Band and Orchestra became household names between the 1920's and 1930's and he himself retired a wealthy man in 1933.
Pryor's dazzling career as a trombonist was initiated by being given a dilapidated slide trombone by his father, Samuel who accepted it as a debt repayment. This instrument was virtually unknown in the United States at that time so consequently the 15-year old Arthur Pryor was obliged to teach himself. In so doing after much diligent practice he mastered the slide trombone horn using only the top one-third length of the slide. It was some five years later that he learned from a casual acquaintance that the complete length of the slide could be used. Due to this unconventional self-tuition whereby he innovated his alternate positions in addition to the standard seven positions he was able to achieve fantastic speed and fluidity on his instrument becoming renowned as"the Boy Wonder of Missouri."
After touring with the great cornet soloist and bandmaster Allessandro Liberati (1847-1927) he was eventually invited to join John Philip Sousa in his newly-formed concert band in 1892. In his 11-year career with the Sousa Band he rapidly advanced from first trombonist, to lead soloist and then to assistant conductor in 1895. It was in this position that he started composing cakewalk successes such as successes Southern Hospitality (1899), and A Coon Band Contest (1899).In 1903 he resigned from Sousa's band to enter into business for himself as a composer/bandmaster and pioneer in the fledgling music recording industry at the Victor Talking Machine Company. The years at the company were the most fertile period for as a composer. Of his three-hundred original works, the most famous were created during this time including: On Jersey Shore (1904), Whistler and His Dog (1905), Triumph of Old Glory (1907) and Heart of America March (1916). Arthur Pryor eventually became so well known (and financially secure) in the early music recording industry that he no longer needed to give live concerts. He was one of the first to whom recording had become more important than the giving of live performances. His Arthur Pryor Band and Pryor's Concert Band and Orchestra became household names between the 1920's and 1930's and he himself retired a wealthy man in 1933.
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Arthur Willard Pryor | Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards |
Arthur Willard Pryor (1870-1942) has at least 40 item(s) at the Amazons which you can order on-line by clicking the item's order icon.
 After Sunset An intermezzoMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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After Sunset - Melody on G String Melody on G String Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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After Sunset - Song Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor. Words by: A. Mattullath
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Arcade Girl, The March & Two-Step Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Arkansaw Huskin' Bee Dance characteristic Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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 Arthur Pryor: Solos For TromboneMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Baby Love A Lullaby Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor. Words by: N. I. Stone
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 Baby Parade, The A two-step patrolMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Baby Parade, The A characteristic two-step patrol Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Blood Lillies A Japanese two-step Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Blue Bells of Scotland Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Bunker Hill March and Two-Step Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Coon Band Contest, A Cake-walk Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Coon Band Contest, A Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Crusader Sacred Song Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor. Words by: J. O'Dea
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Down at Asbury Park Song Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor. Words by: James Danoday
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Gridiron, The March and Two-Step Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Gridiron, The March Two-Step Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Irish King, The March and two-step Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Kansas Two-Step, A Characteristic Dance Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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La Petite Suzanne Valse Caprice Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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La Spaniola Waltz Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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La Spaniola Waltz Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Love Kiss, The Valse Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Love Thoughts Waltz Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Love Thoughts Waltz Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Love's Enchantment Valse Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Love's Enchantment Valse Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Love's Enchantment Valse, etc. Arranged for brass and reed band by S Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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 Mr Black Man March and two-stepMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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On Jersey Shore March Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Soldiers of Fortune March Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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 Southern Hospitality Rag Time Cake-WalkMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Thoughts of Love Concert Waltz Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Victor March, The Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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 Whistler and His Dog, The CapriceMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Whistler and His Dog, The Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Whistler and His Dog, The Caprice Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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Whistler and His Dog, The Music by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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 Ye Boston Tea Party March and Two-StepMusic by: Arthur Willard Pryor.
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| Title | Instruments/Issue | Performers |
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| DBE MP3 Sample | |||
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After Sunset (1907) | D/T/T/B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Baby Parade (1906), The | A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Captain Cupid (1908) | A/T/T/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Coon Band Contest (1899), A | A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Mr Black Man (1904) | T/T/B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Razzazza Mazzazza (1906) | A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Whistler and His Dog (1905), The | T/T/B+A/B/GB(B)+T | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Ye Boston Tea Party (1896) | D/T/T/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Frozen Bill | Edison Standard Record: 10208 | New York Military Band |
| Midi File(s) | Sequencer(s) | ||
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Coon Band Contest (1899), A | Midi | James Pitt-Payne |
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Frozen Bill (1909) | Midi | Colin McDonald |
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Mr Black Man (1904) | Midi | James Pitt-Payne |
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Razzazza Mazzazza (1906) | Midi | Colin McDonald |
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Whistler and His Dog (1905), The | Midi | Perf. Bill Edwards |
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Ye Boston Tea Party (1896) | Midi | J. Pitt-Payne |
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New Columbian Brass Band | The Teddy Bears Picnic |        |
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True North Brass | Strong & Free | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | American Light Music Classics | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | Classic Ragtime: Roots and Offshoots | |
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Various Artists | Down Peacock Alley | |
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Various Artists | Echoes from Asbury Park | |
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Various Artists | From Ragtime to Jazz Vol. 4: 1896-1922 | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | I'll Dance till de Sun Breaks through | |
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Various Artists | On the Boardwalk - Music From the Arthur Pryor Orchestra Collection | |
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Various Artists | Pianola Ragtime: Early Piano Jazz and Ragtime Played on Pianola Rolls: Vol. 2 | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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⇑Various Artists | Pioneer Recording Bands 1917-1920 | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | Rags to Rhythms | |
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Various Artists | Ragtime 1900-1930 | |
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Various Artists | Ragtime, Vol. 1: 1897-1919 | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | Real Ragtime | |
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Various Artists | The Roots of Rag-Time | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | Salon to Swing | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | Stomp and Swerve: American Music Gets Hot | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Various Artists | Thatsum Rag! | |
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Jenks/Grinstead | Ragtime Bigtime | |
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James Reese Europe | Too Much Mustard | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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⇑Paragon Ragtime Orchestra | On The Boardwalk | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Paragon Ragtime Orchestra | That Demon Rag! | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Paragon Ragtime Orchestra | The Whistler and His Dog | |
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Muriel Pollock | Vol. 6 Keyboard Wizards of the Gershwin Era | |
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Alan Martin | Everything is Ragtime Now | |
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Symphonic Winds | Ragging the Baby to Sleep | |
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Palm Court Theatre Orchestra | Down Peacock Alley | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Six Brown Brothers | Rusty Rags | CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) |
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Bill Edwards | It's Ragging Cats and Dogs |
| Item | Title | Available | € | £ | $ | Other |
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| DBE501 | After Sunset (1907) - Intermezzo D/T/T/B/B/GB(B), approx. 4 mins. |
1-2 days |  |
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| DBE502 | The Baby Parade (1906) - A Two Step Patrol A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B), approx. 4½ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE503 | Captain Cupid (1908) - Two Step A/T/T/B/GB(B), approx. 2¾ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE504 | A Coon Band Contest (1899) - Jazz Fox Trot A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B), approx. 3½ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE505 | Mr Black Man (1904) - March Two-Step T/T/B/B/GB(B), approx. 3¾ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE506 | Razzazza Mazzazza (1906) - An Extravaganza A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B), approx. 3½ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| DBE507 | The Whistler and His Dog (1905) - Caprice T/T/B+A/B/GB(B)+T, approx. 2½ mins. |
1-2 days | |
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| ⇑DBE508 | Ye Boston Tea Party (1896) - Two Step D/T/T/B/GB(B), approx. 2¾ mins. |
1-2 days | |
| Title | Instruments | Remarks |
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| Title | Attribution | Instruments | Source | Remarks |
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After Sunset (1907) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano | IMSLP |  |
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Blue Bells of Scotland (1901) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano | IMSLP | Pub. |
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Canoeing (1909) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano, Orchestra | IMSLP | Pub. |
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Heart of America March (1916) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano, Orchestra | IMSLP | Pub. |
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Mr Black Man (1904) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Orchestra | IMSLP | |
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Razzazza Mazzazza (1906) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano | IMSLP | Pub. |
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Soldiers of Fortune (1920) | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano, Orchestra | IMSLP | Pub. |
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Victor March (1904), The | A.W. Pryor (music) | Piano | IMSLP | |
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Whistler and His Dog (1905), The | A.W. Pryor (music) | Orchestra | IMSLP | Pub. |
| Brass Sheet Music |
Annie Laurie (Trumpet)
12 pages. Arr./Editor: Robert Geisler Level: Grade 4. Publisher: Southern Music Company (ST997) |
| Annie Laurie (Baritone)
12 pages. Arr./Editor: Robert Geisler Level: Grade 4. Publisher: Southern Music Company (ST998) |
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 65 works by Arthur Willard Pryor (1870-1942).
It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: ER
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
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| Kansas Two-Step, A | 1895 | |
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| Sweet Lorena Ray | 1896 | Deamor R. Drake (words) | |
| Ye Boston Tea Party | 1896 |  Pub. |
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| Gridiron, The | 1897 | Pub. |
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| Little Nell | 1897 | ||
| Country Club Waltz | 1898 | Pub. | |
| La Spaniola | 1898 | Waltz | Pub. |
| Love Thoughts | 1898 | Pub. |
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| Southern Blossoms | 1898 | |
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| African Beauty - Band, An | 1899 | Pub. | |
| Arkansaw Huskin' Bee | 1899 | Pub. |
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| ⇑ Bunker Hill | 1899 | Pub. |
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| Cakewalk Contest, A | 1899 | ||
| Coon Band Contest, A | 1899 | |
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| Southern Hospitality | 1899 | Pub. |
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| Blue Bells of Scotland | 1901 | |
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| Parisian Melodies | 1901 | ||
| Passing of Ragtime, The | 1902 | |
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| Trombone Sneeze | 1902 | ||
| African Beauty, An | 1903 | |
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
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| Patriot | 1903 | ||
| Crusader | 1904 | J. O'Dea (words) | |
| In Lovers Lane | 1904 | |
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| Love's Enchantment | 1904 | |
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| Mr Black Man | 1904 | Pub. |
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| On Jersey Shore | 1904 | Pub. |
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| Victor March, The | 1904 | |
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| After Sunset - Melody on G String | 1905 | Pub. |
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| Blood Lillies | 1905 | Pub. |
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| Down at Asbury Park | 1905 | James Danoday (words) | Pub. |
| Irish King, The | 1905 | Pub. |
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| ⇑ Whistler and His Dog, The | 1905 | Pub. |
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| Baby Love | 1906 | N. I. Stone (words) | Pub. |
| Baby Parade, The | 1906 | Pub. |
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| Frau Louisa Waltz | 1906 | Pub. | |
| Razzazza Mazzazza | 1906 | Pub. |
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| After Sunset | 1907 | Pub. |
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| Danny and his Hobby-Horse | 1907 | Pub. | |
| Egyptian Love Dance | 1907 | Pub. | |
| Triumph of Old Glory | 1907 | Pub. |
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
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| Artful Artie | 1908 | |
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| Captain Cupid | 1908 | Pub. | |
| Canoeing | 1909 | Pub. | |
| Frozen Bill | 1909 | New York Military Band (perf.) | Pub.  |
| Love Kiss, The | 1909 | |
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| Teddy - After - Africa | 1909 | Pub. | |
| Afifi | 1910 | Pub. | |
| Arcade Girl, The | 1910 | Pub. |
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| Goody Two-Shoes | 1910 | Pub. | |
| Travel, Travel, Little Star | 1910 | Vincent B Bryan (words) David Craig Montgomery (perf.) Fred Stone (perf.) |
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| Arms of America March | 1911 | Pub. | |
| ⇑ Canhanibalmo Rag | 1911 | Pub. | |
| Polka Fantastic | 1911 | ||
| That Flying Rag | 1911 | Pub. | |
| Aeroplane Dip | 1914 | Pub. | |
| Tout la Nuit | 1914 | Pub. | |
| Heart of America March | 1916 | Pub. | |
| We'll Be There Uncle Sammy | 1917 | Wm. K. Devereaux (words) | |
| Soldiers of Fortune | 1920 | Pub. |
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| Gridiron Club, The | 1926 |
| Title | Duration | Performer |
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Frozen Bill | 3:02 | Ragtime Dorian Henry |
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Travel Little Star (1911) Travel | 3:43 | David Craig Montgomery |