Happy Birthday, Shannon Powell!

Jazz and ragtime drummer Shannon Powell was born in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans on April 8, 1962, and by age six he was playing drums regularly at church. While still in grammar school, Powell met legendary musician Danny Barker and eventually became a regular member of Danny Barker & His Original Jazz Hounds. His first paying gig was with that band at Jazz Fest, when Powell was just 14 years old. In high school, Powell became a member of New Orleans Finest, trumpeter Leroy Jones’ first band, and went on to study at the Black Academy of Arts, joining pianist Willie Metcalf, Jr.’s band, along with classmates Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

Powell toured with Harry Connick, Jr., from 1987 to 1992, and released two platinum albums with him. Powell has toured with Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Dr. John, Earl King, and the Preservation Hall Jazz.  He has also recorded with numerous prominent artists, including Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison, Irvin Mayfield, Leroy Jones, Blind Boys of Alabama,  John Boutté, Kermit Ruffins, Charmaine Neville, Henry Butler, George Porter, Jr., and Snooks Eaglin.

Powell is a regular at Jazz Fest and has toured internationally, and now plays with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He leads his own quartet with Jason Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, and Roland Guerin, and has recorded "Powell's Place," a CD which features Powell’s vocals on a mix of traditional and original jazz songs. In addition to being a leader on the traditional jazz circuit, Powell also serves as an educator. If you don’t catch him at workshops presented at universities and jazz festivals all over the world, you can see more of him in Tradition is a Temple, the 2011 documentary film about New Orleans musical culture. No matter when you see him next, today let’s all wish this extraordinary musician a very happy birthday! 

Photo: Shannon Brinkman