Specs Powell
Gordon "Specs" Powell (born June 5, 1922 - September 15, 2007 ) was an American jazz drummer for swing and bop .
Powell initially played the piano in his own combo in addition to drums, but then switched to drums entirely in the late 1930s. He first played with his own ensemble (1938) and then with Edgar Hayes (1939), Eddie South (1939/1940), the John Kirby Sextet (1941/1942), Benny Carter (1941/1942) and Ben Webster . From 1943 he was the first African American studio musician at CBS , from 1947 to 1972 he was a member of the Ray Bloch Orchestra, with whom he appeared in the television shows of Ed Sullivan and Jackie Gleason . At CBS Powell worked on recordings a. a. by Alfredo Antonini , Frank Sinatra , Harry Belafonte , Carroll Burnet , Melba Moore and Barbra Streisand . In addition, he continued to play jazz, e.g. B. with Benny Goodman in 1944, the Red Norvo Sextet 1944/1945, Mildred Bailey , Clyde Hart , Billie Holiday , Erroll Garner and in a trio with Teddy Wilson . He made his only recording under his own name in 1957 for Roulette .
Web links
- Works by and about Specs Powell in the catalog of the German National Library
- Scott Yanow's biography
- Obituary of the Musicians' Union Local 802
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Powell, Specs |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Powell, Gordon |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American swing and bop jazz drummer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 5, 1922 |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 15, 2007 |