Teddy Powell

Who was Teddy Powell?

Teddy Powell was an American jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader. Some of his compositions were under the pseudonym Freddy James.

Teddy spent several years with the Abe Lyman band where he also served as a vocalist, arranger and helped out on the business side of things.

Powell began playing violin when he was 8, picked up the banjo when he was 14 and led his first band the following year. They stayed together until 1944.

His own band hired several highly regarded musicians formerly with the Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Casa Loma orchestras. The band debuted at New York's Famous Door nightclub.

Teddy's big band was very popular for a short time in 1939 while they were in New York. Irving Fazola, Pete Mondello, John Austin, Nick Caizza, Carmen Mastren, Ely Davis, Hugh Brown, S.J. Kramer, John Popa, Jerry Shane, Irwin Berken featured on his bands.

Unfortunately, in 1941, the band lost all of its instruments in a disastrous fire at a nightclub in New Jersey.

Teddy Powell retired from bandleading in 1954 and formed a music publishing company in New York City sometime prior to 1960 and prospered. The principal company, among many, was Tee Pee Music Co.