Alvy Powell

Alvy R. Powell Jr (born October 31, 1955) is an American bass-baritone opera singer and a former member of the U.S. Army Chorus. He is known for his performances at presidential events and for performing the role of Porgy in the George Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess. Before his retirement from the military in 2017, Powell was the oldest enlisted soldier in the Army.

In 2015, Powell received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.

Early life Powell was born in Birdsnest, Virginia. He attended Northampton High School, graduating in 1974. He went on a musical tour of Europe the following year after hearing about it from his high school chorus teacher.

Musical career In 1983, Powell joined the U.S. Army Chorus after his graduation from the University of Maryland, where he earned a voice degree. He left the chorus in 1993 and spent several years singing around the world before rejoining the organization in 2001. He also performed the national anthem a cappella at the inauguration of George H. W. Bush in 1989. Powell had been selected for the task by First Lady Barbara Bush; he had performed at the couple's Christmas parties in years past.

Powell became especially known for his work in opera, and he continued to make appearances in operas even after returning to the Army. He became well known for singing the role of Porgy, reprising the role more than 2500 times. Powell appeared at Carnegie Hall in 2008, singing the part of Joe in Show Boat, and returned in 2009 as Porgy. He played King Balthazar in a BBC television production of Amahl and the Night Visitors.

As of 2017, Powell was the Army's oldest enlisted soldier. That year he announced that he would retire on October 31, his 62nd birthday. A retirement celebration involving the U.S. Army Chorus, to be held in Cheriton, was planned for September 2017.

Personal life Powell met his second wife, Gina, through his work. She was also a singer and they met at an opera house. She died in 2015. Powell had a son in 1987 Alvy Rolland Powell, III by his first wife Sheila.