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[[File:Solorzano-Rickey Powell.jpg|right|thumb|Rickey Powell]] | |||
'''Sylvester Rickey Powell, Jr''' (born [[1948]] in [[Birmingham]]; died [[January 15]], [[2022]] in Birmingham) was a Broadway and jazz vocalist and actor. | '''Sylvester Rickey Powell, Jr''' (born [[1948]] in [[Birmingham]]; died [[January 15]], [[2022]] in Birmingham) was a Broadway and jazz vocalist and actor. | ||
Powell was the son of Sylvester and Cathryne Powell of Birmingham. He attended [[Tuggle Elementary School|Tuggle]] and [[Wilkerson Elementary School|Wilkerson]] schools and [[Ullman High School]]. As a boy he was a | Powell was the son of Sylvester and Cathryne Powell of Birmingham. He attended [[Tuggle Elementary School|Tuggle]] and [[Wilkerson Elementary School|Wilkerson]] schools and [[Ullman High School]]. As a boy he attended [[16th Street Baptist Church]], where he was a member of the children's choir. He also participated in the [[Children's Crusade]] during the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]]' [[Birmingham Campaign]]. He was close friends with [[Cynthia Wesley]], one of the victims of the [[1963 church bombing|bombing]] of 16th Street Baptist]]. | ||
He then enrolled at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, majoring in vocal music. He transferred to [[Talladega College]] after his first year. He was cast as a line dancer in a [[1969]] [[Town & Gown Theater]] production of "Hello, Dolly!" directed by [[James Hatcher]], and was inspired to pursue a career in theater. | He then enrolled at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, majoring in vocal music. He transferred to [[Talladega College]] after his first year. He was cast as a line dancer in a [[1969]] [[Town & Gown Theater]] production of "Hello, Dolly!" directed by [[James Hatcher]], and was inspired to pursue a career in theater. From there he became part of a production of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" that toured Europe for five months. | ||
After graduation, Powell and a close friend, Annie Joe Edwards, moved together to New York City. He | After graduation, Powell and a close friend, Annie Joe Edwards, moved together to New York City. He appeared in off-Broadway productions of "Mama, I Want to Sing" and "Hair", and was the understudy for the lead in the Broadway revival of ''The Wiz''. He also performed with Voices Inc., Herbie Mann, the Village People, and the Chic Organization. | ||
Powell | Powell toured Europe with Gloria Gaynor and twice with Queen Esther Marrow and the Harlem Gospel Singers. After a diagnosis of kidney failure, he was forced to stop touring. He returned to Birmingham where he could schedule dialysis treatment and joined [[Birmingham City Schools]]' artist-in-residence program ([[Mind Lift, Inc.]]). He and Annie Joe Edwards have also been involved as Creative Arts Coordinators for after school programs at the [[A. G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club]]. | ||
As a vocalist, Powell performed with the [[Birmingham Heritage Band]]. As an actor he starred locally as "Reverend Johnson" in [[Harris Wormsby]]'s "[[The Dream Lives]]" in [[1989]], and as "Joe Bailey" in ''[[Tuxedo Junction (musical)|Tuxedo Junction]]''. He starred in the [[Birmingham Childrens Theater]] production of "[[The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963]]" directed by [[Chalethia Williams]], and in a revival of "The Dream Lives" in [[2014]]. | As a vocalist, Powell performed with the [[Birmingham Heritage Band]] and [[6th Avenue Baptist Church]]'s "[[Men of Distinction]]" choir. As an actor he starred locally as "Reverend Johnson" in [[Harris Wormsby]]'s "[[The Dream Lives]]" in [[1989]], and as "Joe Bailey" in ''[[Tuxedo Junction (musical)|Tuxedo Junction]]''. He starred in the [[Birmingham Childrens Theater]] production of "[[The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963]]" directed by [[Chalethia Williams]], and in a revival of "The Dream Lives" in [[2014]]. His one-man shows have included "On My Journey Now: Spirituals Through the Ages," and a "musical memoir" entitled "[[Rickey Powell's Busy Day]]" for [[Theatre Tuscaloosa]] in October [[2021]]. | ||
Powell was inducted into the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]] in [[2001]]. He died in January [[2022]]. | Powell was inducted into the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]] in [[2001]]. He died in January [[2022]]. | ||
Revision as of 14:08, 19 January 2022
Sylvester Rickey Powell, Jr (born 1948 in Birmingham; died January 15, 2022 in Birmingham) was a Broadway and jazz vocalist and actor.
Powell was the son of Sylvester and Cathryne Powell of Birmingham. He attended Tuggle and Wilkerson schools and Ullman High School. As a boy he attended 16th Street Baptist Church, where he was a member of the children's choir. He also participated in the Children's Crusade during the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights' Birmingham Campaign. He was close friends with Cynthia Wesley, one of the victims of the bombing of 16th Street Baptist]].
He then enrolled at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, majoring in vocal music. He transferred to Talladega College after his first year. He was cast as a line dancer in a 1969 Town & Gown Theater production of "Hello, Dolly!" directed by James Hatcher, and was inspired to pursue a career in theater. From there he became part of a production of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" that toured Europe for five months.
After graduation, Powell and a close friend, Annie Joe Edwards, moved together to New York City. He appeared in off-Broadway productions of "Mama, I Want to Sing" and "Hair", and was the understudy for the lead in the Broadway revival of The Wiz. He also performed with Voices Inc., Herbie Mann, the Village People, and the Chic Organization.
Powell toured Europe with Gloria Gaynor and twice with Queen Esther Marrow and the Harlem Gospel Singers. After a diagnosis of kidney failure, he was forced to stop touring. He returned to Birmingham where he could schedule dialysis treatment and joined Birmingham City Schools' artist-in-residence program (Mind Lift, Inc.). He and Annie Joe Edwards have also been involved as Creative Arts Coordinators for after school programs at the A. G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club.
As a vocalist, Powell performed with the Birmingham Heritage Band and 6th Avenue Baptist Church's "Men of Distinction" choir. As an actor he starred locally as "Reverend Johnson" in Harris Wormsby's "The Dream Lives" in 1989, and as "Joe Bailey" in Tuxedo Junction. He starred in the Birmingham Childrens Theater production of "The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963" directed by Chalethia Williams, and in a revival of "The Dream Lives" in 2014. His one-man shows have included "On My Journey Now: Spirituals Through the Ages," and a "musical memoir" entitled "Rickey Powell's Busy Day" for Theatre Tuscaloosa in October 2021.
Powell was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 2001. He died in January 2022.
References
- Prewitt, Nathan T. (January 16, 2014) "'The Dream Lives' pays tribute to civil rights at Carver Theatre in Birmingham." The Birmingham News
- Wormsby, Hollis (February 12, 2015) "Rickey Powell: God Has Given Me Triumphs and Trials." The Birmingham Times