Specs Powell

Gordon "Specs" Powell (June 5, 1922 – September 15, 2007) was a jazz drummer who began performing in the swing era.

Specs was the first black staff musician hired by CBS in 1943. Born in New York City, he started on piano but became exclusively a drummer in the late 1930s. He worked with Edgar Hayes (1939), Benny Carter (1941–42), and Ben Webster. He played percussion on the Ed Sullivan Show in the early 1960s and remained active professionally until the 1970s. In 2004 he was inducted into the Big Band Jazz Hall of Fame.

He died in San Diego of kidney disease at the age of 85.

Discography

As leader

• Movin' in (Roulette, 1957)
• Specs Powell Presents Big Band Jazz (Strand, 1961)

As sideman

• Billy Butler, Guitar Soul! (Prestige, 1969)
• Charlie Byrd, The Great Byrd (Columbia, 1968)
• Erroll Garner, The Most Happy Piano (Columbia, 1957)
• Errol Garner, Encores in Hi Fi (Columbia, 1958)
• Charlie Kennedy & Charlie Ventura, Crazy Rhythms (Regent, 1957)
• Moondog, Moondog 2 (Columbia, 1971)
• Rose Murphy, Jazz, Joy, and Happiness (United Artists, 1962)
• Red Norvo, Gene Krupa, Charlie Ventura, Teddy Wilson, Jazz Concert (Jazztone, 1956)
• Oscar Peterson, The Oscar Peterson Trio and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet at Newport (Verve, 1963)
• Bernard Purdie, Soul Is... Pretty Purdie (Flying Dutchman, 1972)
• Chuck Rainey, The Chuck Rainey Coalition (Skye, 1972)
• Ray Repp, Hear the Cryin (Myrrh, 1972)
• Shirley Scott, Soul Song (Atlantic, 1969)
• Charlie Shavers, The Complete Charlie Shavers with Maxine Sullivan (Bethlehem, 1957)
• Bert Sommer, The Road to Travel (Capitol, 1969)
• Bert Sommer, Inside (Eleuthera, 1970)
• Carla Thomas, Memphis Queen (Stax, 1969)
• Joe Thomas, Joy of Cookin' (Groove Merchant, 1972)
• Charlie Ventura, Jumping with Ventura (EmArcy, 1955)
• Charlie Ventura, East of Suez (Regent, 1958)
• Reuben Wilson, Set Us Free (Blue Note, 1971)
• Teddy Wilson, The Teddy Wilson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer at Newport (Verve, 1957)
• Teddy Wilson, Teddy Wilson All Star Jazz Sextette (Allegro, 1956)

External links

• Scott Yanow All-Music Guide
• LP music
• Specs Powell obituary
• Specs Powell NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2000)