Arthur Prysock

Arthur Prysock was born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1929. He grew up hearing gospel music in church, and later listened to Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole. In 1953, he recorded "A Cottage for Sale," which became a hit and brought him wider attention.

His voice was a deep baritone that worked well with ballads. He recorded songs like "A Rockin' Good Way" and "Bloodshot Eyes," and put out albums including Arthur Prysock Sings Ballads in 1956. He sometimes worked with other musicians, playing with Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald at different points.

Prysock kept recording and performing for decades. He made The Arthur Prysock Collection in 1960 and The Ultimate Arthur Prysock in 1997. The sound he had on those early records, that low, steady voice against simple arrangements, stayed recognizable through the years.