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 New York City, Died October 30, 1976 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1958

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 69 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  
Columbia CO56723 10-in. 11/8/1956 Old fashioned love Buck Clayton's Orchestra ; Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia CO56724 10-in. 11/8/1956 Lullaby of Broadway Buck Clayton's Orchestra ; Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia CO56725 10-in. 11/8/1956 Some of these days Buck Clayton's Orchestra ; Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia CO60472 10-in. 2/20/1958 I'm coming Virginia Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60473 10-in. 2/20/1958 Mister Five by Five Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60474 10-in. 2/20/1958 June night Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60475 10-in. 2/20/1958 Rosalie Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60476 10-in. 2/26/1958 Knock me a kiss Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60477 10-in. 2/26/1958 Jimmy's blues Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60478 10-in. 2/26/1958 Someday sweetheart Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60479 10-in. 2/26/1958 Harvard blues Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60480 10-in. 2/27/1958 It's a sin to tell a lie Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60481 10-in. 2/27/1958 Tav'lin' light Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60482 10-in. 2/27/1958 When you're smiling Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia CO60483 10-in. 2/27/1958 Somebody stole my gal Jimmy Rushing Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, 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  
(Results 1-25 of 69 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Powell, Rudy," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

Powell, Rudy. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112253.

"Powell, Rudy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.