He worked with Hot Lips Page, Louis Armstrong, and Luis Russell. He joined Count Basie's Band in 1946, replacing the great sax player Illinois Jacquet.
Powell appears on a number of blues recordings in the late 1940s with people like Brownie McGhee, Willie Jordan, and Doc Pomus. He also worked with Champion Jack Dupree and continued to play jazz, touring France with Howard McGee in 1948. He played bop and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie in 1949. During the 1950s, Powell found steady work with a variety of rhythm & blues artists.
He recorded as a leader for Federal in 1951 and 1953 and had established himself with the Josie label by 1954, which included groups like the Cadillacs. His rhythm & blues work included a number of singles, and studio work with Atlantic/Atco in the late 1950s. On the classic single "Mr. Lee," by the Bobbettes he takes the tenor solo.
Powell was back recording jazz in the early 1960s. In 1961, he recorded Party Time for a subsidiary of Prestige. In his later years, he worked in Harlem and made only a few recordings. Those wishing to hear Powell's work are recommended to the Prestige album Texas Tenors, produced by Bob Porter.
Glória
Jesse Powell Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not Marie
Gloria, it's not Sherie
Gloria, she's not in love with me
Well, can't you see
It's not Marie?
Gloria, it's not Sherie
Well, maybe she'll love me
How am I to know
And maybe she'll want me
But how am I to know
Gloria, it's not Marie
Gloria, it's not Sherie
Gloria, she's not in love with me
Oh Gloria, it's not Marie
Gloria, it's not Sherie
Gloria, she's not in love with me
Gloria
The lyrics of Jesse Powell Orchestra's "Gloria" speak of unrequited love and the self-doubt and uncertainty that comes with it. The repeated line "Gloria, it's not Marie" and "Gloria, it's not Sherie" shows the singer trying to convince himself that the object of his affection is not someone else he may have mistakenly thought she was. He repeats her name, Gloria, as if trying to summon her, hoping she will love him back.
The lyrics go on to express the singer's hope and desperation, wondering if Gloria will ever love him or want him, but also acknowledging that he does not know what her true feelings are. The tone of the song is wistful and melancholic, with the music matching the lyrics perfectly to create a sorrowful, yet beautiful, mood.
Overall, "Gloria" is a song about the highs and lows of love, the excitement and uncertainty that comes with it, and the desire for it to be reciprocated. These emotions are expressed through poetic yet straightforward lyrics and a soulful musical arrangement, making it a timeless classic in the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Gloria, Gloria
Repetitive invocation of the name Gloria
It's not Marie
I am not in love with Marie
Gloria, it's not Sherie
Sherie isn't the one I am referring to as Gloria
Gloria, she's not in love with me
I am not in love with someone who goes by the name Gloria
Well, can't you see
Can't you understand what I am saying?
It's not Marie?
Are you not getting it that I am talking about someone else?
Gloria, it's not Sherie
I am not referring to Sherie as the one I call Gloria
Gloria, she's not in love with me
I am not in love with someone named Gloria
Well, maybe she'll love me
There might be someone out there who will love me
How am I to know
I am unsure how I will find out
And maybe she'll want me
Perhaps she may have a desire for me
But how am I to know
But how can I be certain?
Oh Gloria, it's not Marie
I am repeating that I am not in love with Marie
Gloria, it's not Sherie
Once again, I am clarifying that Sherie isn't the one I am referring to as Gloria
Gloria, she's not in love with me
I am repeating that I am not in love with someone called Gloria
Gloria
Closing invocation of the name Gloria
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: LEON RENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind