Most of us remember Dick Powell as a longtime actor, director, and producer, and as the host of his own TV show, but he actually began his career by showcasing his talents as a musician and singer. In fact, for a number of years he was one of the most popular crooners around.
When you think of the urbane and sophisticated image Powell projected in many of his movie roles, you’d never guess that he began life in rural Arkansas, but even as a child his interest was in performing. He not only sang in church and school choirs but also learned to play several instruments, and by the time he started college in the early 1920s he was already thinking of a show business career.
Powell was still in his teens when he left college to follow his muse, and after gaining some experience with a couple of other groups he landed a spot with a solid regional band led by Charlie Davis. He spent several years with Davis, as both an instrumentalist and singer, and not only toured with the outfit but also furnished the vocals for many of its records. After leaving the band in the early 1930s to spend some time on stage, he was ‘discovered’ by a talent scout and was soon on his way to Hollywood.
It didn’t take long for Powell to make his mark in movie musicals, breaking out as a star in 1933’s classic 42nd Street alongside Ruby Keeler. For the next decade he made countless movie musicals while also appearing regularly on radio, and was one of the most popular stars around. But eventually he began to leave music behind and become a more conventional actor, reinventing himself and finding new stardom as a tough-guy character. He also began enjoying his work behind the scenes as a director and producer, which he continued to do for many years even as he mostly left acting behind. He was just 58 when he died from cancer in 1963.
Dick Powell – “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm”
Geezer Music Club 
I first discovered Dick Powell playing Richard Diamond on radio and a bit later on the Dick Powell Theatre on TV. I always thought of him as a serious actor and had no knowledge of his earlier career as a song and dance man and light comedian. I was a bit stunned when I saw him in those early films on the box.
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I too was a little surprised to find that he was a musical star in his early years. I’ve been writing lately about actors who sometimes sang — Clint Walker, Lorne Greene, etc — but Powell was apparently the real thing.
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Always good to read about a local boy from the foothills of the Ozarks here in Arkansas who made the big time! Bet you didn’t know he was a hillbilly! 🙂
I first remember Powell as the quick-witted and suave Phillip Marlowe – detective extraordinaire. But like most, never associated him with being a singer of any renown. Maybe he needed to go back to his roots and do a little Bluegrass! 😀
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Well, he might have been a ‘flatlander’, but since he was born in Mountain View it does sound like hillbilly territory. (BTW, Arkansas doesn’t have exclusive rights to hillbillydom. My family is from the Kentucky hills originally, and I’ll guarantee some of them could have have held their own in a hillbilly contest.) 🙂
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Based on the comments, I was the other way around as I knew of Dick Powell as a crooner first.
People must watch the Busby Berkeley musicals to see his true talent.
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