Like his brother Bud Powell, Richie began learning the piano at an early age, attending New York City College. Initially traversing all styles from rhythm and blues to hard bop, he began his career with Jackie McLean - who lived a stone's throw from the Powell family - and then went on to work with Paul Williams and Johnny Hodges. He then joined the historic quintet led by the Max Roach-Clifford Brown duo. Sadly, while his brother Bud's story was also interspersed with many dramatic events, his life was fatally cut short at the age of 25. Richie Powell and Clifford Brown both died in car accidents. Despite this shortened career, Richie Powell can be heard outside the quintet on recordings with Sonny Rollins or in the company of singer Dinah Washington.
