Teddy Powell
Teddy Powell (born March 1, 1905 in Oakland as Teodoro Paolella , † November 17, 1993 in New York City ) was an American singer, composer and big band leader in the field of swing and popular music .
Live and act
Teddy Powell first learned the violin as a child, then switched to the banjo and guitar. He began his musical career at the age of 17 in Abe Lyman's orchestra , where he also acted as a band singer, arranger and manager and stayed until 1935. Until 1938 he continued to work with Lyman in the music business and organized radio bands.
Powell wrote many compositions during his career, some under the pseudonym "Freddy James". His best-known titles included Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle , which he wrote with Leonard Whitcup and Walter Samuels; the title was a hit for Tommy Dorsey's band. Boots and Saddles won the ASCAP Award for Best Western Song of the Year in 1935 . Another song from this period, If My Heart Could Only Talk , was sung by Billie Holiday , among others .
With former members of the bands of Benny Goodman , Tommy Dorsey and the Casa Loma Orchestra , Powell formed his own band in 1939, which debuted at the New York club Famous Door .
Teddy Powell's swing orchestra was very popular in New York; In his various band formations, a number of later well-known jazz musicians played Charlie Ventura (1944-1946), Tony Aless (1940/1942), Mary Ann McCall , Alvin Stoller , Irving Fazola (1942/43), Milt Bernhart (1943), Barry Galbraith ( 1941) and Lee Konitz . Powell's orchestra has also appeared in two music films, Jam Session for Columbia and Melody Gardens for Universal.
Records were made for Decca Records such as Teddy's Boogie Woogie , Pussy in the Corner , Flea On a Spree, Some Day and The Sphinx , all of which were composed by Powell with Ben Homer. From 1940 to 1942 he recorded 70 tracks for Bluebird Records , such as the Bluebird Boogie Woogie , and other records were made for Victor Records .
In 1941 Powell's orchestra began a long engagement at the Rustic Cabin Club in Englewood Cliffs (New Jersey) ; Metronome magazine praised them as the most surprising band of the year . Unfortunately, all of their instruments were destroyed in a fire in the Rustic Cabin in October; however, Powell was able to keep the band performing in New York hotels.
During the record strike, Powell and his band played in various Army and Navy bases; their appearances were also broadcast on the radio station AFRS. Powell was sentenced to five months in prison for a charge of bribery to evade military service. After his release he reactivated his band, but they switched from swing to the sweet style. Teddy Powell gave up the orchestra in 1954, concentrated on composing (like Bewildered for James Brown in 1962) and founded a music publisher, Tee Pee Music Co , in New York .
Discographic notes
- Teddy Powell 1942 (Circle)
- Teddy Powell 1942-43 (First Time)
- Riding the Subways ( Hep Records )
literature
- Simon, George T .: The Big Bands . With a foreword by Frank Sinatra. 3rd revised edition. New York City, New York: Macmillan Publishing Co and London: Collier Macmillan Publishers, 1974, pp. 394-397.
- Leo Walker: The Big Band Almanac . Ward Ritchie Press, Pasadena. 1978.
Web links
- Big band library
- Teddy Powell in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Powell biography of scott yanow in Allmusic
Individual evidence
- ^ Scott Yanow in Allmusic Guide
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Powell, teddy |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Paolella, Teodoro (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz musician and big band leader |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 1, 1905 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Oakland |
| DATE OF DEATH | 17th November 1993 |
| Place of death | New York City |