Arthur Prysock
Arthur Prysock (1924/1929–1997) was an American jazz and R&B singer renowned for his deep, velvety baritone voice, which often drew comparisons to Billy Eckstine. Over a career spanning five decades, he transitioned from a big-band vocalist to a solo crooner, later finding fame through television commercials.
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on either January 1 or 2, in either 1924 or 1929. In 1944, he was discovered by bandleader Buddy Johnson in Hartford, Connecticut, where he had been working in the aircraft industry. He served as Johnson’s main male vocalist from 1944 to 1952, recording hits like "They All Say I’m the Biggest Fool" and "Jet My Love". Prysock launched his solo career in 1952 with Decca Records, scoring an immediate R&B hit with "I Didn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night".
Throughout the 1960s, he recorded for Old Town Records, where he established himself as a premier romantic balladeer with tracks such as "The Very Thought of You" (1960) and "It’s Too Late Baby, It’s Too Late" (1965). In 1965, he collaborated with the Count Basie Orchestra for a high-profile album on Verve Records.
Although primarily a jazz and R&B artist, his discography of approximately 50 albums also included easy listening, blues, and even country recordings. He frequently performed and recorded with his brother, famed tenor saxophonist Wilbert "Red" Prysock.
Prysock achieved broad pop-culture recognition in the late 1970s for his deep-voiced narration and singing in the Lowenbrau beer commercials, featuring the tagline, "Tonight, let it be Lowenbrau".
In 1976, he scored a surprise Top Ten R&B hit with the disco track "When Love Is New," reportedly inspired by his daughter's interest in the genre. He received two Grammy Award nominations late in his career: Best Jazz Vocal Performance for "Teach Me Tonight" (1987) and "This Guy's in Love with You" (1988).
In his final years, he retired to Bermuda. He died on June 21, 1997 (some sources cite June 7 or 14), at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, Bermuda, following a brain aneurysm. In 1995, he received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation for his lasting contributions to the genre.
All My Life
Written-By – Gamble & Huff 6:49
A2 All My Life
Written-By – John Davis 6:45
A3 I Love Makin' Love To You
Written-By – B. Weisman, Evie Sands, R. Germinaro 4:34
A4 Baby I'm The One
Written-By – A. Brown, Dee Ervin 3:45
B1 When Love Is New
Written-By – Gamble & Huff 7:13
B2 One Broken Heart
Written-By – John Davis 4:57
B3 All I Need Is You Tonight
Written-By – M. Steals & M. Steals 4:07
B4 This Is What You Mean To Me
Written-By – B. Eli, T. Collins 3:00
Label: Old Town Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
All My Life is an album that marks a shift for the veteran jazz and R&B singer Arthur Prysock into a smooth soul/disco sound. Produced by John Davis in Philadelphia, the album embraces a softer, more orchestral form of disco, often compared to the style of Barry White.
Primarily Funk / Soul and Disco, blending Prysock's signature distinctive baritone with a contemporary, dance-oriented sound.
The album includes the surprise disco hit "When Love Is New," which became a successful single and is considered a "proto-disco anthem".
The record was conceived and recorded in Philadelphia, leveraging the "Philly soul" sound popular at the time. It features a rich soundbed of strings and percussion from session musicians like members of John Davis and The Monster Orchestra.
Prysock, known for his older, wiser stature as a singer, delivers lyrics that balance a mature perspective on love and life with the "fire in your eyes" themes of disco music, often featuring a spoken "rap" portion in tracks like "All My Life".
The album is noted for its ability to seamlessly incorporate Prysock's classic, warm vocal style into a modern R&B and disco context, making it a unique entry in his discography.
The album has been reissued by labels like Big Break Records (BBR), often including bonus tracks (such as the single version of "When Love Is New") and detailed liner notes that provide context on the album's merits and the singer's career.