Teddy Powell

Teddy Powell ( born March 1, 1905 in Oakland Teodoro Paolella, † November 17, 1993 in New York City ) was an American singer, composer and big band leader in the swing and popular music.

Life and work

Teddy Powell learned as a child, first violin, then switched to banjo and guitar. He began his musical career at the age of 17 years in the orchestra of Abe Lyman, where he also acted as band vocalist, arranger and manager and remained until 1935. Until 1938, he continued working with Lyman in the music business and organized radio bands.

Powell wrote throughout his career many compositions, some under the pseudonym " James Freddy ". Among his most famous tracks belonged Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle, which he wrote with Leonard Whitcup and Walter Samuel; the title was a Hiterfolg for Tommy Dorsey's band. Boots and Saddles in 1935 awarded the ASCAP Award for Best Western Song of the Year. Another song from this period, If My Heart Could Only Talk, was, inter alia, sung by Billie Holiday.

With former members of the bands of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and the Casa Loma Orchestra 1939 Powell started his own band, which debuted at the New York club the Famous Door.

Teddy Powell's swing orchestra enjoyed a great popularity in New York; in its various band formations played a series later known jazz musician 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 participated in two musical movies, Jam Session for Columbia and Melody Gardens for Universal.

Records created for Decca Records, as Teddy 's Boogie Woogie, Pussy in the Corner, Flea On a Spree, Some Day and The Sphinx, which were composed by Powell with Ben Homer. From 1940 to 1942, he took 70 tracks for Bluebird Records on how the Bluebird Boogie Woogie, more plates created for Victor Records.

1941 Powell began a long involvement in the orchestra Club Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs (New Jersey); The magazine Metronome praised as surprising band of the year. Unfortunately, all of their instruments were destroyed in a fire in October in Rustic Cabin; Powell still managed to keep the band with performances in New York hotels.

During the record - strikes Powell and his band played in various Army and Navy bases; their performances were also broadcast by radio station AFRS. Because of an alleged bribe him to avoid military service, Powell had to serve a prison sentence of five months. After his release, he reactivated his band, but from swing more joined the Sweet- style. Teddy Powell gave the orchestra 1954, focused on composing ( as Bewildered for James Brown 1962) and founded in New York a music publishing, Tee Pee Music Co.

Disco Graphical Notes

  • Teddy Powell 1942 ( Circle )
  • Teddy Powell 1942-43 ( First Time )
  • Riding the Subways (Hep Records)
764027
de