This harmoinca player's records were harbingers of the amplified, down-home sound of post-war Chicago blues.
James Edward Pryor, b. September 15, 1921 in Lambert, MS, d. October 18, 2006 in Cape Girardeau, MO. As a child Pryor became drawn to the harmonica after watching an albino player, John Blissett, together with his friend Jimmy Rogers. When he was 13 he saw Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson number 2) play. After settling in Chicago in 1945 after US Army service, Pryor joined the Maxwell Street group of blues singers which included Johnny Young, Floyd Jones and Moody Jones, with whom he recorded in 1948. Their records were harbingers of the amplified down-home sound of post-war Chicago blues, although at this time Pryor's singing and harmonica were heavily influenced by John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson. Pryor made his first record, 'Telephone Blues', with guitarist Moody Jones in 1949. There were later singles for J.O.B. ('Boogy Fool', 1950), Parrot (1953), Blue Lake (1954) and Vee Jay Records ('Someone To Love Me', 1956). During the 50s Pryor also frequently toured the south.
After making the dance novelty 'Boogie Twist', Pryor left the music business in 1963 but returned in the early 70s, touring and recording in Europe in 1973. A 1974 album was made with a New Orleans rhythm section including guitarist Justin Adams. In later years he benefited from the revived interest in blues, recording his 1992 album for Texas label Antone's. Regular new albums included Mind Your Own Business (1997), Can't Stop Blowin' (1999) and Shake My Hand (1999). Pryor had a long-standing and fruitful musical partnership with guitarist Mel Brown, in addition to his own projects.
James Edward Pryor, b. September 15, 1921 in Lambert, MS, d. October 18, 2006 in Cape Girardeau, MO. As a child Pryor became drawn to the harmonica after watching an albino player, John Blissett, together with his friend Jimmy Rogers. When he was 13 he saw Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson number 2) play. After settling in Chicago in 1945 after US Army service, Pryor joined the Maxwell Street group of blues singers which included Johnny Young, Floyd Jones and Moody Jones, with whom he recorded in 1948. Their records were harbingers of the amplified down-home sound of post-war Chicago blues, although at this time Pryor's singing and harmonica were heavily influenced by John Lee 'Sonny Boy' Williamson. Pryor made his first record, 'Telephone Blues', with guitarist Moody Jones in 1949. There were later singles for J.O.B. ('Boogy Fool', 1950), Parrot (1953), Blue Lake (1954) and Vee Jay Records ('Someone To Love Me', 1956). During the 50s Pryor also frequently toured the south.
After making the dance novelty 'Boogie Twist', Pryor left the music business in 1963 but returned in the early 70s, touring and recording in Europe in 1973. A 1974 album was made with a New Orleans rhythm section including guitarist Justin Adams. In later years he benefited from the revived interest in blues, recording his 1992 album for Texas label Antone's. Regular new albums included Mind Your Own Business (1997), Can't Stop Blowin' (1999) and Shake My Hand (1999). Pryor had a long-standing and fruitful musical partnership with guitarist Mel Brown, in addition to his own projects.