Felix Powell

Felix Lloyd Powell (23 May 1878 – 10 February 1942) was a Welsh British Army Staff Sergeant most famous for writing the music for marching song "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile", in 1915, during World War I. The words were written by his brother George Henry Powell (under the pseudonym George Asaf), and the song was entered into a competition for "best morale-building song". It won first prize and was noted as "perhaps the most optimistic song ever written".

Powell later wrote a musical play, Rubicund Castle, which was staged at the Pavilion Theatre in Peacehaven. When a West End producer bought it he drastically altered it, leaving only the music unchanged, and renamed it Primrose Times. This version went unstaged after the latter was arrested and convicted for fraud.

Powell committed suicide during World War II in 1942, aged 63. Wearing the uniform of the Peacehaven Home Guard, he shot himself in the heart while on guard duty, using his own rifle.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 23, 1878 (St Asaph), Died February 10, 1942 (Peacehaven)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= 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 B-18924 10-in. 12/22/1916 Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile! Edward Hamilton Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra composer  
Victor B-18928 10-in. 12/26/1916 Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile! Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-22210 10-in. 8/13/1918 Keep the home fires burning Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor BS-100562 10-in. 5/25/1936 Back up the Victor The Cadets Male vocal quartet composer  
Victor PBS-072023 10-in. 1/12/1942 Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag (and smile, smile, smile) City Slickers ; Spike Jones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble composer  
Columbia 47227 10-in. 12/13/1916 Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag (And smile, smile, smile) James F. Harrison ; Knickerbocker Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77127 10-in. 6/9/1917 Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 77409 10-in. 10/4/1917 War song hits Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 49297 12-in. 1/5/1918 War song medley one step Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49303 12-in. 1/25/1918 Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag (and smile, smile, smile) Columbia Stellar Quartette ; Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 6753 12-in. approximately 1916 Pack up your troubles Lloyd Johnson Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 6874 12-in. approximately July 1916 Have you seen the ducks? Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra ; Lee White Female vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus composer  
Edison 5233 10-in. 12/26/1916 Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile Helen Clark Female vocal solo and male vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Powell, Felix," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109592.

Powell, Felix. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109592.

"Powell, Felix." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109592

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