Snooky Pryor
James Edward "Snooky" Pryor (born September 15, 1921 in Lambert , Mississippi , † October 18, 2006 in Cape Girardeau , Missouri ) was an influential African American blues singer and harmonica player .
Live and act
Pryor was - next to Little Walter - one of the pioneers of the 'fat', intensified playing style of the 'blues harp'. While serving in the Army, he first blew signals through an amplifier system on a military trumpet, prompting him to try the same on his harmonica. After his discharge from the Army, he bought his own amplifier and began playing on Maxwell Street in Chicago , but also in clubs, and recorded a number of shellac records on various record labels by the late 1950s , including for the label JOB
Pryor counted Sonny Boy Williamson I and Sonny Boy Williamson II to his musical role models.
Nine Below Zero , Judgment Day , Crazy 'Bout My Baby , How'd You Learn to Shake It Like That and Shake My Hand are his most famous songs.
Snooky Pryor died on October 18, 2006 in a hospital in Cape Girardeau , Missouri , at the age of 85.
Discography
Singles
- "Boogie" b / w "Telephone Blues" (1948) Planet
- "Someone to Love Me" b / w "Judgment Day" (1956) Vee-Jay Records
Albums
- Homesick James & Snooky Pryor (1973) Virgin Records, London
- Do It If You Want To (1973) ABC Records, Los Angeles, New York
- Snooky (1989) Blind Pig Records
- Snooky Pryor (1991) Paula Records
- Johnny Shines and Snooky Pryor: Back To The Country (1991) Blind Pig Records
- Snooky Pryor: Too Cool To Move (1992) Antones
- In This Mess Up to My Chest (1994) Antones
- Mind Your Own Business (1996) Antones
- Snooky Pryor: Shake My Hand (1999) Blind Pig Records
- Can't Stop Blowin '(1999) Electro-Fi
- Super Harps II with Carey Bell , Lazy Lester , Rafuel Neal (2001) Telarc
- Snooky Pryor and his Mississippi Wrecking Crew (2002) Electro-Fi
- Mojo Ramble (2003) Electro-Fi
- Double Shot Snooky Pryor and Mel Brown (2005) Electro-Fi
Guest musicians (selection)
- Homesick James Ain't Sick No More (1973)
- Homesick James Sad and Lonesome (1980)
- Memphis Slim, Matt Murphy, Eddie Taylor Together Again One More Time / Still Not Ready For Eddie (1990)
- Johnny Shines Back To The Country (1991)
- Bob Margolin My Blues & My Guitar (1995)
- Sunnyland Slim 1949–1951 (2002)
- Down The Dirt Road: The Songs Of Charley Patton (2001)
- Big Bill Morganfield Born Lover (2009)
personal data | |
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SURNAME | Pryor, snooky |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Pryor, James Edward (real name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues musician |
DATE OF BIRTH | September 15, 1921 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Lambert , Mississippi |
DATE OF DEATH | October 18, 2006 |
Place of death | Cape Girardeau , Missouri |