Photo: Distributed by the Gale Agency in New York. Photographer uncredited and unknown. / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bud Powell was a pianist, jazz musician and composer. Born on September 27, 1924, Bud Powell was from New York City, New York, United States. Death is recorded on July 31, 1966, at the age of 41. Education on record includes DeWitt Clinton High School.
My Take
To me, Bud Powell is one of those rare figures who didn't just play an instrument but rebuilt how it could be heard. Translating the lightning-fast logic of bebop onto the piano demanded both technical fearlessness and a singular musical imagination, and he had both. What moves me most is how his vocabulary became the foundation for generations after him, from Toshiko Akiyoshi to Barry Harris. His life was painfully short, and you can hear that fragility and intensity wrestling inside the music. I find his recordings electrifying precisely because they feel like genius caught mid-spark, never settled, always reaching.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bud Powell
- Name (Japanese)
- バド・パウエル
- Reading
- ばど・ぱうえる
- Born
- September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rat
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Occupation
- pianist / jazz musician / composer / recording artist / musician
2. Background
- High school
- DeWitt Clinton High School
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud%20Powell
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%90%E3%83%89%E3%83%BB%E3%83%91%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AB
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312692
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bud Powell born?
Born September 27, 1924.
When did Bud Powell die?
Died July 31, 1966, aged 41.
Where was Bud Powell from?
Bud Powell was from New York City, New York, United States.
What did Bud Powell do?
Bud Powell worked as pianist, jazz musician, composer, recording artist, musician.
Pianist — see all → · Jazz musician — see all → · More people from the United States →