Arthur Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. He was a prolific composer of band music, his best-known composition being The Whistler and His Dog.
Arthur Pryor first took up music at a very young age under the tutelage of his father and was playing the valve trombone 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.
He played his first solo with the Sousa Band at age 22 during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. During his 12 years with the SousaBand, Pryor estimated that he played 10,000 solos. From 1895 to 1903, Pryor was assistant conductor of the Sousa Band.
During his association with Sousa, 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.
One German said: No one can play so well - it is a Yankee trick.
