Prysock, Arthur “Red”

Prysock, Arthur “Red” , R&B/jazz singer; b. Spartanburg, S.C., Jan. 2, 1929; d. at the King Edward Hospital, Bermuda, June 21, 1997. His attention-getting baritone voice, often compared with that of Billy Ecks-tine’s, was featured on recordings in all genres and on television and radio commercials. He became famous in Buddy Johnson’s band (1944–52), having 16 big R&B hits. From then on, he toured internationally from a base in Long Island, N.Y. He gained even more notoriety as a romantic ballad specialist in the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s, Prysock mainly played club dates, but resurfaced as a recording artist in 1985 with “Rockin’ Good Way.” In 1987, he received a Grammy nomination for “Teach Me Tonight”’ with singer Betty Joplin. The following year, he was nominated for best jazz vocal performance for “This Guy’s in Love with You.” He died after a prolonged illness; the cause of death was not released.

Discography

Like Who? Like Basie (1959); Paul Quinichette (1960); Arthur Prysock Sings Only for You (1961); For Basie (1962); Coast to Coast (1962); Basie Reunion (1962); Arthur Prysock/Count Basie (1965); Arthur Prysock and Count Basie (1965); To Love or Not to Love (1967); Portrait of Arthur Prysock (1967); Mister Prysock (1967); This Is My Beloved (1968); / Must Be Doing Something Right (1968); Rockin’ Good Way (1985); This Guy’s in Love with You (1986); Jazz ’Round Midnight (1995).

—Music Master Jazz and Blues Catalogue/Lewis Porter