Teddy Powell
Encyclopedia
Teddy Powell (March 1, 1905, Oakland, California
- November 17, 1993, New York
) was an American jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader. Some of his compositions were under the pseudonym
Freddy James.
Teddy spent several years with the Abe Lyman
band where he also served as a vocalist, arranger and helped out on the business side of things.
Powell began playing violin when he was 8, picked up the banjo
when he was 14 and led his first band the following year. They stayed together until 1944.
His own band hired several highly regarded musicians formerly with the Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Casa Loma orchestras. The band debuted at New York's Famous Door nightclub.
Teddy's big band was very popular for a short time in 1939 while they were in New York. Irving Fazola, Pete Mondello, John Austin, Nick Caizza, Carmen Mastren
, Ely Davis, Hugh Brown, S.J. Kramer, John Popa, Jerry Shane, Irwin Berken featured on his bands.
Unfortunately, in 1941, the band lost all of its instruments in a disastrous fire at a nightclub in New Jersey.
Teddy Powell retired from bandleading in 1954 and formed a music publishing company in New York City sometime prior to 1960 and prospered. The principal company, among many, was Tee Pee Music Co.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- November 17, 1993, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) was an American jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader. Some of his compositions were under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Freddy James.
Teddy spent several years with the Abe Lyman
Abe Lyman
Abe Lyman was a popular bandleader from the 1920s to the 1940s. He made recordings, appeared in films and provided the music for numerous radio shows, including Your Hit Parade....
band where he also served as a vocalist, arranger and helped out on the business side of things.
Powell began playing violin when he was 8, picked up the banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
when he was 14 and led his first band the following year. They stayed together until 1944.
His own band hired several highly regarded musicians formerly with the Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Casa Loma orchestras. The band debuted at New York's Famous Door nightclub.
Teddy's big band was very popular for a short time in 1939 while they were in New York. Irving Fazola, Pete Mondello, John Austin, Nick Caizza, Carmen Mastren
Carmen Mastren
Carmen Mastren was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist and violinist born in Cohoes, New York. Mastren is best remembered for his work from 1936-1941 with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra as a guitarist....
, Ely Davis, Hugh Brown, S.J. Kramer, John Popa, Jerry Shane, Irwin Berken featured on his bands.
Unfortunately, in 1941, the band lost all of its instruments in a disastrous fire at a nightclub in New Jersey.
Teddy Powell retired from bandleading in 1954 and formed a music publishing company in New York City sometime prior to 1960 and prospered. The principal company, among many, was Tee Pee Music Co.