Red Prysock
American R&B saxophonist (1926–1993)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wilburt "Red" Prysock (February 2, 1926 – July 19, 1993)[1] was an American R&B tenor saxophonist,[2] one of the early Coleman Hawkins-influenced saxophonists to move in the direction of rhythm and blues, rather than bebop.[3]
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February 2, 1926
Red Prysock | |
|---|---|
Red Prysock (foreground) playing with Tiny Grimes, c. 1947 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Wilburt Prysock February 2, 1926 |
| Died | July 19, 1993 (aged 67) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 1950s–1960s |
| Label | Mercury |
Career
With Tiny Grimes and his Rocking Highlanders, Prysock staged a saxophone battle with Benny Golson on "Battle of the Mass".[4] He first gained attention as a member of Tiny Bradshaw's band, playing the lead saxophone solo on his own "Soft", which was a hit for the Bradshaw band in 1952.[2] Prysock also played with Roy Milton and Cootie Williams.[2]
In 1954, he signed with Mercury Records as a bandleader and had his biggest hit, the instrumental "Hand Clappin'" in 1955.[2] During the same year, he joined the band that played at Alan Freed's stage shows.[2] He also performed on several hit records by his brother, singer Arthur Prysock, in the 1960s.[5]
Personal life
Prysock was born in 1926 in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States,[2] and died of a heart attack in 1993 in Chicago, at the age of 67.[1][6] He served in the United States Army during World War II, which was when he learned to play saxophone.[3][5] He was buried at the Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina.[7]
Discography
- Rock and Roll (Mercury, 1956)
- Fruit Boots (Mercury, 1957)
- The Beat (Mercury, 1957)
- Swing Softly Red (Mercury, 1958)
- Battle Royal with Sil Austin (Mercury, 1959)
- The Big Sound of Red Prysock (Forum Circle, 1964)
- For Me and My Baby (Gateway, 1964; reissued on CD in 2003)