Rudy Powell

Rudy Powell (later Musheed Karweem) (October 28, 1907 – October 30, 1976) was an American jazz reed player.

Born in New York City, United States, Powell learned piano and violin while young and then clarinet and saxophone. In the late 1920s, he played with June Clark, Gene Rodgers's Revellers, and Cliff Jackson's Krazy Kats (1928–1930).

He never recorded as a leader, but worked extensively as a sideman throughout his career. Among his credits are (in roughly chronological order) Elmer Snowden, Dave Nelson, Sam Wooding, Kaiser Marshall, Rex Stewart (1933), Fats Waller (1935–37), Edgar Hayes, Claude Hopkins (1938–39, 1944), Teddy Wilson, Andy Kirk (1940–41), Fletcher Henderson (1941–42), Eddie South, Don Redman (1943), Chris Columbus, Cab Calloway (1945–48), Lucky Millinder (1949–51), Jimmy Rushing, Buddy Tate, Benton Heath (1953–61), Ray Charles (1961–62), Buddy Johnson, Duke Ellington, and Saints & Sinners (1965–69). He continued playing intermittently into the 1970s.

Powell appears in A Great Day in Harlem.

Powell also belonged to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

He died in October 1976, at the age of 69.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 28, 1907 (New York City), Died October 30, 1976 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, alto saxophone, saxophone

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-88995 10-in. 6/24/1935 12th Street rag Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-88997 10-in. 6/24/1935 Somebody stole my gal Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-88998 10-in. 6/24/1935 Sweet Sue Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone, clarinet  
Brunswick B18612 10-in. 1/30/1936 Life begins when you're in love Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 62217 10-in. 5/25/1937 Caravan Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62218 10-in. 5/25/1937 Edgar steps out Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62219 10-in. 5/25/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62220 10-in. 5/25/1937 Stomping at the Renny Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62450 10-in. 7/27/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62451 10-in. 7/27/1937 High, wide and handsome Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62452 10-in. 7/27/1937 Satan takes a holiday Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62573 10-in. 9/7/1937 Love me or leave me Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 62574 10-in. 9/7/1937 Blue skies Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 62575 10-in. 9/7/1937 So rare Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 62675 10-in. 10/11/1937 Queen Isabella Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62676 10-in. 10/11/1937 Old King Cole Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62677 10-in. 10/11/1937 Shindig Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62678 10-in. 10/11/1937 Let's love Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 62679 10-in. 10/11/1937 I know now Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 62680 10-in. 10/11/1937 Sweetheart Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 62681 10-in. 10/11/1937 When you and I were young, Maggie Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 63157 10-in. 1/14/1938 Meet the band Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63158 10-in. 1/14/1938 Fugitive from a harem Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63159 10-in. 1/14/1938 Swingin' in the promised land Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63160 10-in. 1/14/1938 Barbary Coast blues Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63294 10-in. 2/17/1938 Help me Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63295 10-in. 2/17/1938 Without you Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63296 10-in. 2/17/1938 You're my first thought every morning Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63297 10-in. 2/17/1938 In the mood Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63298 10-in. 2/17/1938 Star dust Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 63299 10-in. 2/17/1938 Sophisticated swing Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 67893 10-in. 6/25/1940 Fine and mellow Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 67894 10-in. 6/25/1940 Scratching in the gravel Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 67895 10-in. 6/25/1940 Fifteen minute intermission Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 67896 10-in. 6/25/1940 Take those blues away Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 67917 10-in. 7/8/1940 Now I lay me down to dream Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 67918 10-in. 7/8/1940 There is no greater love Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67919 10-in. 7/8/1940 Midnight stroll Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67920 10-in. 7/8/1940 Little Miss Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68317 10-in. 11/7/1940 The Count Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68318 10-in. 11/7/1940 Twelfth Street rag Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68319 10-in. 11/7/1940 When I saw you Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68363 10-in. 11/18/1940 If I feel this way tomorrow Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68364 10-in. 11/18/1940 Or have I ? Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68546 10-in. 1/3/1941 Cuban boogie woogie Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68547 10-in. 1/3/1941 A dream dropped in Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68548 10-in. 1/3/1941 Is it a sin (lovin' you) ? Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 68549 10-in. 1/3/1941 Ring dem bells Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 75147 8/17/1949 'Tain't nobody's business if I do Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75148 8/17/1949 Baby get lost Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80409 1/18/1951 Love never comes around Erskine Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80410 1/18/1951 Nona-1 Erskine Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80411 1/18/1951 Please don't put me down Erskine Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80412 1/18/1951 Station break Erskine Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Powell, Rudy," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

Powell, Rudy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

"Powell, Rudy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253

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