Wayne relaxes on the TEA ReX ® patio with a perfect cuppa. (Jeff Phelps photo: Charlotte TravelHost Magazine, 2003)
Welcome: We're always glad when you come to visit...
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR COMEDIAN / ACTOR / SINGER / MAGICIAN / ALL-AROUND-SCAMP WAYNE POWERS.
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We're adding information, photos, and updates all the time so come back often!
So What's New?
UPDATED JUNE 2008:
NEW RELEASE DVD: PURCHASE "HARRY LANGDON: LOST AND FOUND" DVD SET AT A SPECIAL INSIDER PRICE!
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD! Scroll down to the Latest Scoop section below to hear "All Hail The Cat!"
You can CLICK & PURCHASE "Plain Old Me" (CD or cassette) on the Singer/Bandleader Page from CD Baby, or you can purchase it from www.tearex.com. Share the joy!
TREASURED OFFSPRING - William & Nicholas Powers prop up the ol' man. (2001)
The Latest Scoop:
Wayne swings with the Don Edwards Ovations Big Band. (Ballantyne Village, Charlotte. December 2006)
Powers in performance at the sold-out Tosco Music Party. (Dale F. Halton Theatre, Charlotte. January 2007)
BACK IN THE STUDIO: Wayne dusted off his fedora for this jazz vocal recording session.
"ALL HAIL THE CAT" was produced for a special animation project in Australia. What a concept: an ol' jazz cat singing about a feline! November 2005.
"MEEEEEEEOW !!!" (Photos courtesy of Rebecca K. Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design, Charlotte, NC)
Listen to
"ALL HAIL THE CAT"
→
Lyrics-Rebecca K. Story Music-Michael D. McGinnis Brass Arrangement-Fred R. Story Keyboards- Bill Anschell Brass Section- Phil Thompson, Doug Burns Drums- Donnie Marshall Lead vocals- Wayne Powers Background vocals- Kira Allison, Kay Roebuck, David Floyd, Michael D. McGinnis, Fred R. Story, Anthony Fedele
Backstage at Fiddler On the Roof: Wayne congratulates dear friend and mentor PAUL SORVINO on his brilliant performance as Tevye. (Raleigh, NC, January, 2005)
In a characteristically somber moment for these two characters, Wayne and PAUL SORVINO catch up during a 2006 Charlotte visit. (HEADS-UP: A classic 1992 picture of Wayne & Paul can be found on the Actor/Comedian Page.)
Insights: Powers has a lifelong love of both comedy and magic. While residing in Los Angeles, he became a magician member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the world-famous Magic Castle.
Not your standard patent-leather-and-polyester, rabbit-in-hat magician, Powers still occasionally performs magic with his trademark unique comedic twist in the wonderfully eccentric tradition of Carl Ballantine and Britain's Tommy Cooper.
A noted comedy historian, Wayne has assisted with several books, including Chris Costello's delightful book about her comedian father, Lou Costello, of Abbott & Costello. (Lou's on First; 1981, St. Martin's Press).
He is an avid afficionado of classic comedy .. from burlesque to vaudeville to radio and the golden age of TV... and from early talkies to silent film comedies, especially those of the uniquely talented Harry Langdon. Powers was a major contributor of material to William Schelly's groundbreaking book, Harry Langdon, (1982, Scarecrow Press).
HARRY LANGDON UPDATES: All-Day Entertainment has produced a fabulous, long-overdue four-disc DVD set, HARRY LANGDON: LOST AND FOUND, for which Wayne provided some original film source material, recorded commentaries on two of the films, and was one of several film historians who penned insightful essays for the DVD booklet. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS AMAZING DVD SET AND GET IT AT A SPECIAL INSIDER PRICE HERE: http://store.tearex.com/736899113629.html
PLUS: Author Bill Schelly has significantly revised and expanded his 1982 Harry Langdon book, lavishly illustrated with even more rare photographs, many of which are from Powers' personal collection. Set to be released in the Spring, 2008 by McFarland, we'll keep you posted!
NBC Portrait (1991)
One of the four great silent comedians of American cinema: HARRY LANGDON (1884-1944)
From the Performance Scrapbook:
THE AUDIENCE DOESN'T QUITE GRASP the intensity and seriousness of Wayne's magic act. (Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC. 2002.)
UNDISTRACTED BY THE AUDIENCE, Wayne courageously forges ahead with yet another death-defying feat of magic, assisted by his faithful duck. Authentic sequined turban direct from the Elton John garage sale. (Spirit Square, Charlotte, 2002.)
TV coverage of Wayne (chaperoned by his son Nicholas) in the Strawberry Festival Parade, Garden Grove, CA. 1990.
Wayne as Officer Bagatelle, handcuffed to PENNY MARSHALL. Laverne & Shirley. (Kinda kinky for 1978, eh?)
