We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bob Pryor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bob below.
Bob, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
From a very young age, I was involved in music—first in the school choir and orchestra, then eventually learning to play the guitar and performing professionally in a band for many years. My musical history is long and involved, but I will say that over the last ten years, I have focused on having my music and other writings heard and read by as many people as possible. Financial rewards are nice, but my primary purpose is to utilize my gifts of music, composition, performing, and teaching to make others’ lives better.
Over my lifetime, I have written over 300 songs and continue to write and perform. I believe that becoming more spiritual in the last few years has helped me realize that I was placed here for a reason, and making people happy with my gifts is the reason I’m here.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Bob has been involved in music since he was a youngster, serving as a singer, guitarist, composer, and author. Additionally, he has conducted seminars on leadership techniques and been a guest speaker at various venues.
From his early teens, he performed in bands or as an individual artist, playing regularly at clubs throughout New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The band he played in, called “The Cellarmen,” had a drummer and singer named Paul Caravello. The band remained together for several years, but like many bands, its members eventually went their separate ways. Paul auditioned for the globally renowned band “KISS,” which had recently lost its drummer, and he secured the position. Paul changed his name to the stage name Eric Carr and played with KISS worldwide until his untimely death at 41 years old.
In Bob’s early twenties, with his parents relocating to Texas, Bob moved to the Spring, Texas area, and never looked back. For around twenty-five years, Bob worked in various executive positions for local firms. Unfortunately, during that time, his music took a back seat due to the never-ending demands of business. After many successful years in the business world, Bob decided to start his own training company, specializing in teaching fundamentals of exporting and basic leadership.
Once Bob started his own company and gained some flexibility, he picked up the guitar again, and a wonderful thing happened: original music began emerging as fast as he could write it. Since then, Bob has been on a creative journey, resulting in over hundreds of songs written, numerous live performances at spiritual centers, private events, clubs, and related functions, and two interviews and live performances on KPFT radio in Houston.
Over the last 15 years, Bob has built a home recording studio and created 6 CDs, 4 music books, one lyric book, and a book of his articles and essays. He also performed live music on Zoom during the Covid pandemic for a number of churches, as many of them conducted their services on Zoom. Bob’s music is varied, with some tunes being spiritual, some contemporary ballads, some rock and roll, and some blues. The common thread is that the majority of songs are relevant to many people’s life experiences, covering thought-provoking subjects and leaving the listener thinking.
In the last few years, due to severe arthritis, Bob has faced mobility challenges. However, these limitations have not stopped him. With the help of today’s technology, Bob is diversifying his content creation, writing more songs, and is presently putting together a digital pathway to all his music and publications. Sometimes, being a senior and mobility-challenged can be depressing, but Bob has fought that off by including positive articles in his writings directed at seniors to help them realize that this is the beginning of their life, not the end.
His often-published article, “When Did I Become Irrelevant,” describes the emotional process we face as we age and motivates the reader to “start over, newer and better.”
Bob has always felt that he has been truly blessed to have the ability to create all types of content and effectively communicate it to other people, with the hope of making their lives better.
He is just getting started! Stay tuned!
Bob can be contacted through his website: www.themusicofbobpryor.com
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My interest in music was instinctive; it came from within. I grew up listening to my dad playing Frank Sinatra. As I grew older, I enjoyed Dion, The Four Seasons, and many artists of that period. When it comes to impactful qualities in my life, the ones that stand out are enthusiasm, the desire to share my music so much that I was “tenacious” enough to teach myself music, and the courage to play and sing in front of others. By nature, I am an extrovert and love entertaining. I don’t know where my writing skills came from, but I can say with all humility that I am a prolific writer. In addition to over 300 songs I’ve written, in 2023, I wrote around 20 new songs and have a few I’m working on now.
As for advice, if the only reason you want to be in the music business is to be a big star and make a lot of money, most likely you will be disappointed. To be a star in today’s world, not only do you have to have the ability, but you also have to be extremely lucky! I repeat, you have to be extremely lucky. If you are interested in music, my advice is to pursue a career because you love the music, love to perform, or love to write. Perhaps you will be one of the lucky ones. But maybe your destiny will be to enjoy the art and make others happy.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am seeking a female singer who has professional experience, can sing lead or harmony and enjoys doing original music. Because of my mobility issues, I’d ask her to practice in my studio which is in the Northwest part of Harris County, Texas (Spring)
My website has many music samples and videos, so the person can see me perform my music and determine if its something she is interested in pursuing.
I can be reached through my website: www.themusicofbobpryor.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themusicofbobpryor.com
- Instagram: “tallmusicman” or search Bob Pryor
- Facebook: Bob Pryor
- Youtube: www.youtube.com@Bobpryorsmusic
Image Credits
Robert Mark Pryor – AKA “Bob Pryor”
