Richie Powell
Encyclopedia
Richie Powell was an American
bebop
jazz
pianist
.
Powell was born into a musical family in New York City
, and was the younger brother of Bud Powell
(also a pianist). Although sometimes considered less gifted than his bebop-icon brother, he was a respected musician and a member of the group co-led by Clifford Brown
and Max Roach
.
In 1956 Powell and Brown were being driven overnight by Powell's wife Nancy to an engagement in Chicago
. Nancy lost control of the vehicle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
during a dark rainy night, and all three occupants were killed.
Drummer Max Roach, who co-led the band with Richie and Brownie (Clifford Brown), told Ben Sidran
in the book Talking Jazz, "When Clifford and Richie were taken away from us in that awful accident, that unfortunate accident that happened, the group still traveled. We had been booked beyond that, so I honored some of those jobs, as much as I could. Of course, it was a traumatic and emotional experience for me. I mean, I was really in never-never land for quite a while."
Pianist McCoy Tyner
, who grew up next door to Richie and brother Bud in Philadelphia, purportedly got some of his inspiration to develop his pentatonic chord voicings because he heard Richie voice left-hand chords in fourths.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
Powell was born into a musical family in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and was the younger brother of Bud Powell
Bud Powell
Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk...
(also a pianist). Although sometimes considered less gifted than his bebop-icon brother, he was a respected musician and a member of the group co-led by Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
and Max Roach
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
.
In 1956 Powell and Brown were being driven overnight by Powell's wife Nancy to an engagement in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Nancy lost control of the vehicle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
during a dark rainy night, and all three occupants were killed.
Drummer Max Roach, who co-led the band with Richie and Brownie (Clifford Brown), told Ben Sidran
Ben Sidran
Ben Sidran is an American jazz and rock pianist, organist, vocalist and writer born in Chicago, noted for his work with the early Steve Miller Band.-Biography:...
in the book Talking Jazz, "When Clifford and Richie were taken away from us in that awful accident, that unfortunate accident that happened, the group still traveled. We had been booked beyond that, so I honored some of those jobs, as much as I could. Of course, it was a traumatic and emotional experience for me. I mean, I was really in never-never land for quite a while."
Pianist McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
, who grew up next door to Richie and brother Bud in Philadelphia, purportedly got some of his inspiration to develop his pentatonic chord voicings because he heard Richie voice left-hand chords in fourths.