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Teddy Powell

Teddy Powell (March 1, 1905 – November 17, 1993) was born in Oakland, California, United States, as Teodoro Paolella, and became a respected American jazz musician, band leader, composer, and arranger. Some of his compositions were written under the pseudonym Freddy James.

Powell began playing violin when he was eight and picked up the banjo when he was fourteen. During the late 1920s to the early 1930s, he was a member of the Abe Lyman orchestra, taking on the additional tasks of gathering radio bands. He formed the Teddy Powell Orchestra in 1939 and it performed through the 1940s. Powell's sidemen included Tony Aless, Gus Bivona, Pete Candoli, Irving Fazola, and Charlie Ventura, but his best sideman left for better paying work.

"Snake Charmer", a song Powell published in 1937 (lyrics by Leonard Whitcup), is still a popular song among partner dancers in Finland, where it is usually performed as a translation: Kuningaskobra fi). It placed 69th on the 1952-1959 charts, and is still being recorded by modern performers, as listed in the recordings database of the Finnish national broadcasting company Yle.

After the band folded, Powell wrote music and arrangements. He had hits with "Bewildered" and "If My Heart Could Only Talk". During the latter part of his career, he worked in music publishing.


Birth and Death Data: Born March 1, 1905 (Oakland), Died November 17, 1993 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, songwriter, leader, composer, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 126-137 of 137 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 66868 10-in. 11/13/1939 Flea on a Spree Teddy Powell Orchestra leader  
Decca 66869 10-in. 11/13/1939 Some day Teddy Powell Orchestra leader  
Decca 66870 10-in. 11/13/1939 The Sphinx Teddy Powell Orchestra leader  
Decca 67135 10-in. 2/1/1940 The one I love (belongs to somebody else) Pete Skinner ; Teddy Powell Orchestra leader, arranger  
Decca 67136 10-in. 2/1/1940 I get the blues when it rains Pete Skinner ; Teddy Powell Orchestra leader, arranger  
Decca 67137 10-in. 2/1/1940 Am I blue ? Pete Skinner ; Teddy Powell Orchestra leader, arranger  
Decca 67138 10-in. 2/1/1940 Ridin' the subways Pete Skinner ; Teddy Powell Orchestra leader, arranger  
Decca 67777 10-in. 5/20/1940 Please take a letter, Miss Brown Teddy Powell Orchestra leader  
Decca 67778 10-in. 5/20/1940 Feather merchant''s ball-1 Teddy Powell Orchestra leader  
Decca 67779 10-in. 5/20/1940 Outside of that, I love you Teddy Powell Orchestra leader  
Decca 67780 10-in. 5/20/1940 Teddy Bear boogie-2 Teddy Powell Orchestra leader, arranger  
Columbia (U.K.) CL6001 10-in. 12/15/1936 Rendez-moi mes montagnes Marcel Carivan ; Tino Rossi Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 126-137 of 137 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Powell, Teddy," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106247.

Powell, Teddy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106247.

"Powell, Teddy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106247

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