Ollie Powers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ollie Powers (1890 – April 14, 1928) was an American jazz drummer and vocalist.[1]

Biography

Ollie Powell[2] was born in Louisville, Kentucky, United States.[1]

Louis Armstrong remembered him as a solo entertainer at the Dreamland Cabaret, where he sung Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do" in a powerful, but high and sweet voice.[3] Powers helped Armstrong land a job there before Armstrong left for New York City to play with Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra.[4]

One of his ensembles, named Ollie Powers' Harmony Syncopators, recorded for Paramount Records in 1923. The label released two tracks; "Jazzbo Jenkins" and "Play That Thing." The latter track was recorded four times by the band.[5] From 1926 onwards, he performed with the clarinet player and sometimes bandleader, Jimmie Noone, until shortly before Powers death.[1]

Powers died of

diabetes in April 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.[1] During the funeral at Liberty Congregational Church, Armstrong played "Going Home" from Dvořák's New World Symphony.[6]

Both of the Paramount tracks were released in November 2013 on the compilation album, The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Vol. 1 (1917-1927).[7]

References

  1. ^
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  2. ^ Joseph F. Clarke (1977). Pseudonyms. BCA. p. 134.
  3. .
  4. .
  5. ^ "Ollie Powers' Harmony Syncopators". Red Hot Jazz Archive. February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. .
  7. ^ "The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Vol. 1 (1917-1927) : Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved September 7, 2014.

External links