Today we’d like to introduce you to Rex Pryor.
Hi Rex, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Rex grew up in a small northwestern Missouri town of 180 people. These roots can be found in his lyrics and songs that he writes. He began playing guitar at the age of forty five. His brother, Benny, convinced him to purchase a guitar and teach himself how to play songs. Rex previously had poems and a play published, so he had some success as a wordsmith, which led to a featured reading in Greenwich Village, NYC. After constant practicing and playing his guitar alone, he soon began writing his own songs. Rex was accepted to play the 20th Anniversary of the Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah Ok in 2017., a song writers festival. His song writing centers around story telling and he hopes the song resonates with the listener. Rex is in the band Exit 13. He also performs solo, playing his original music. His songs have been played on radio in Kansas City, Oklahoma, Texas and most recently some international radio play.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
At first, playing the guitar was frustrating as it took some time to learn the chords and progressions. And of course getting those fingers calloused had to be accomplished. The initial soreness can make a person wonder if it is going to work out.. Being an original song writer and artist can result in it being difficult to find venues that encourage original music. Cover music is an easier sell, but, my desire is in my own original works.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I write my own songs and my performances include mostly original music. My songs have been played on radio in the U..S. and also in other countries, such as, Mexico, Spain ,Argentina, Canada and the United Kingdom. I was selected as one of the artists for the 20th Anniversary Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma. This was very special to me as this is a tribute festival to one of the best songwriters of all times and I was included! 2026 will be the second year I have played the Diamond Stone Festival in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This festival highlights some of the best acts of Oklahoma, so I am quite proud to be from Kansas and get to be in the lineup. I believe I have developed the reputation of being an artist that plays his own songs. People know when they come to hear me play they will be hearing my songs.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Rex has created his own circuit of venues that encourages original music. This makes booking shows much easier. Many venues require cover songs set lists which is not a good fit for Rex. However, an artist can find opportunities to play their songs almost every night of the week in the Kansas City area.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rexpryor.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Exit13Band
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rexpryor8707
