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 (Results 26-50 of 54 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 63294 10-in. 2/17/1938 Help me Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63295 10-in. 2/17/1938 Without you Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63296 10-in. 2/17/1938 You're my first thought every morning Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63297 10-in. 2/17/1938 In the mood Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63298 10-in. 2/17/1938 Star dust Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63299 10-in. 2/17/1938 Sophisticated swing Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67893 10-in. 6/25/1940 Fine and mellow Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67894 10-in. 6/25/1940 Scratching in the gravel Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67895 10-in. 6/25/1940 Fifteen minute intermission Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67896 10-in. 6/25/1940 Take those blues away Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 67917 10-in. 7/8/1940 Now I lay me down to dream Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
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, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68317 10-in. 11/7/1940 The Count Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68318 10-in. 11/7/1940 Twelfth Street rag Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68319 10-in. 11/7/1940 When I saw you Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68363 10-in. 11/18/1940 If I feel this way tomorrow Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68364 10-in. 11/18/1940 Or have I ? Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68546 10-in. 1/3/1941 Cuban boogie woogie Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68547 10-in. 1/3/1941 A dream dropped in Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68548 10-in. 1/3/1941 Is it a sin (lovin' you) ? Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 68549 10-in. 1/3/1941 Ring dem bells Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
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  
(Results 26-50 of 54 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Powell, Rudy," accessed May 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

Powell, Rudy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

"Powell, Rudy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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