Donald Powell was born in Los Angeles, California on August 6, 1936. Powell was an accomplished singer and piano player. He was also a member of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company in 1950 when it appeared at the Broadway Theater in New York City. The show closed after 38 performances. The company then embarked on a tour to South America, Europe and North Africa. They had particular success in Denmark and France.
The Dunham tour ended in Vienna in 1960. Their headliner was Archie Savage, who later appeared in the Spaghetti western “Death Rides a Horse” as the black man John Phillip Law helps in the saloon recoup his lost gambling wager. The dance troupe was stranded in Vienna and without money because of bad management by their impresario. Dunham saved the day by arranging for the company to be paid to appear in a German television special called ‘Karibische Rhythmen’ after which they returned to the United States.
Powell was the Dunham company’s conductor and when Savage decided to remain in Italy so did Powell. He made himself a name first of all as a singer and a pianist. He formed ‘The King’s Men Orchestra’ with whom he performed with great success at some of the most important Italian clubs and later with ‘The Don Powell Orchestra’ and made his first recording “Come e Grande Questa Casa Senza te” and “Mani Fredde”, two romantic songs suited to his deep, warm tones. He then signed with the Parade label where he released several 45 rpm records from Spaghetti westerns where he had sung the main title themes. He worked with Marcello Giombini, Ennio Morricone, Anton Garcia Abril, Carlo Savina and several others. For Morricone he records the main theme song for “I cannibali” in 1970.
Powell married an Italian girl named Alessandra Veresani. In 1964 he participated in the contest “Un disco per l’estate: with the song “Come e grande questa casa senza te” and in 1966 he won the first edition of ‘Sette voci’ a popular live TV show. In al Don made 30 recordings of 45s and LPs.
Don acted in several theatrical productions but mostly he appeared in exploitation films, and always nurturing his musical talent, as he was often hired to sing and sometimes to write songs included on the soundtrack. He appeared in live concerts as a singer and pianist up until the mid-1980s.
In 1986 Don moved to Udine, Friuli Venezia-Giulia with a new female partner and they had a daughter named Georgia. Don died in Udine on November 1995 of an undisclosed ailment. He was only 59.
POWELL, Don (Donald Powell) [8/6/1936,
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. – 11/?/1995, Udine, Friuli Venezia-Giulia,
Italy] – songwriter, singer, musician (piano), actor, married to Alessandra
Veresani (1959-1995), father of Georgia Powell (196?- ), founded ‘King’s Men Orchestra’.
$5,000 on One Ace - 1964 [sings “A Gambling Man”]
The Avenger (Texas Adios) – 1966 [sings: “Texas Goodbye”]
Death Walks in Laredo – 1966 [sings: “Laredo”]
A Few Dollars for Django -1966 [sings: “There Will Come a
Morning” sung by Don Powell]
A Golden Sheriff – 1966 [sings “The Golden Man”]
Ringo and His Golden Pistol – 1966 [sings: “Johnny
Ringo”]
Vengeance* – 1967 [sings: “Vegneance”]
And God Said to Cain – 1969 [sings: “Rocks, Blood and
Sand”]
Hey Amigo, to Your Death! – 1970 [sings: "Hey Amigo,
Your Dead"]
The Boldest Job in the West – 1971 [sings: “They Call it
Gold”]
A Long Ride from Hell – 1968 [sings: “The Long Ride
West”]
7 Devils on Horseback – 1972 [sings: “Where is Your
Gold”]
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