Louis Armstrong remembered him as a solo entertainer at the Dreamland Cabaret, where he sung Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do" in a powerful, but high and sweet voice.[3] Powers helped Armstrong land a job there before Armstrong left for New York City to play with Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra.[4]
One of his ensembles, named Ollie Powers' Harmony Syncopators, recorded for Paramount Records in 1923. The label released two tracks; "Jazzbo Jenkins" and "Play That Thing." The latter track was recorded four times by the band.[5] From 1926 onwards, he performed with the clarinet player and sometimes bandleader, Jimmie Noone, until shortly before Powers death.[1]
Powers died of diabetes in April 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.[1] During the funeral at Liberty Congregational Church, Armstrong played "Going Home" from Dvořák's New World Symphony.[6]
Both of the Paramount tracks were released in November 2013 on the compilation album, The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Vol. 1 (1917-1927).[7]
