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 1-25 of 54 records)

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, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62218 10-in. 5/25/1937 Edgar steps out Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62219 10-in. 5/25/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62220 10-in. 5/25/1937 Stomping at the Renny Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62450 10-in. 7/27/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62451 10-in. 7/27/1937 High, wide and handsome Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62452 10-in. 7/27/1937 Satan takes a holiday Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
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, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62676 10-in. 10/11/1937 Old King Cole Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62677 10-in. 10/11/1937 Shindig Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 62678 10-in. 10/11/1937 Let's love Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
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, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63158 10-in. 1/14/1938 Fugitive from a harem Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63159 10-in. 1/14/1938 Swingin' in the promised land Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 63160 10-in. 1/14/1938 Barbary Coast blues Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 54 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Powell, Rudy," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

Powell, Rudy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

"Powell, Rudy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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