From jazz vocalist/bandleader to actor/comedian/radio talk show host, it's

easy to see why Wayne Powers is referred to as a “renaissance man.”

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Powers' television career spans several decades and includes his recurring role as the Cop on Laverne & Shirley, MacKenzie Phillips' boyfriend

on One Day At A Time, Murder She Wrote, several episodes ofSimon And Simon, Full House, Alf, Doogie Howser, along with many others, including starring for two seasons in his own popular NBC sitcom, 13 East.

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Wayne's is one of those instantly recognized voices. He has done countless voiceover commercials for major national sponsors... from Avis to McDonald's to the Heineken "Share the Good" campaign, to being the voice of Budman for Budweiser on TV and radio. Powers voiced one of those two delinquent talking birds in the Windex TV commercials for fifteen years. He has also been active in voicing animation, including Teenage Mutant Turtles, Dennis The Menace, Tale of Tillie's Dragonand Hermie: A Common Caterpillar with Tim Conway, Don Knotts and Harvey Korman. Powers is also the voice chosen to recreate the character of Boss Hogg in the Dukes of Hazzardcomputer and Playstation games.

 

Powers' theatrical background includes serving as President of the renowned Group Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, and playing the lead role in Inside Eddie Binstock, which he co-directed with actor/playwright Tim Robbins and performed for a delighted Lord Laurence Olivier. Powers was a member of the legendary Off The Wall comedy troupe, where he improvised regularly with Robin Williams.

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Music has always been a part of Powers' show business career. At 16, he started out as a “boy singer” in New York, was a pioneer disco deejay in the 1970's, and even worked with Henry Mancini as Professional Manager of his music publishing companies.

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Throughout his career, Powers has been a successful nightclub performer in both comedy and music, always returning to his first love: live performance for a live audience. During the 1990's he took the West Coast by storm with his jazz band, Wayne Powers and his Hoi Polloi. The crowds were large and enthusiastic.

 

The critics agreed:

“Get yourself to a Wayne Powers show. The guy is really terrific!” (L.A. Jazz Scene)

 

Powers’ critically acclaimed premiere album, “Plain Old Me,” was recorded live in the studio, with Wayne and the band performing together just the way they had in top Hollywood venues like the legendary Vine St. Bar & Grill, the iconic Cinegrill and at major jazz festivals.

Powers now resides in Chicago (his preferred ‘launching pad’ for performance travels).

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His long-anticipated latest album, “If Love Were All,” was also recorded live in the studio. From the Great American Songbook of jazz standards, Powers gives voice to some truly classic, compelling tunes, telling a personal yet universal saga of love lost and love found. We’ve all been there. Each tune on “If Love Were All” explores with authenticity a different aspect of an eternal story you’re sure to recognize. There’s a choice array of torch songs, or what Wayne and other crooners call ‘Saloon Songs’ — heartfelt ballads that will bring to mind a jukebox, wet quarters and soggy dollar bills in some dimly lit barroom. And then there are those uplifting tunes of love’s pure, unbridled joy. It’s all captured on this album.

 

Powers says, “I’m excited and honored to work with some top-flight jazz musicians on this live-in-studio recording: Ziad Rabie, Sax. Keith Davis, Piano. Ron Brendle, Acoustic Bass. Al Sergel, Drums.” It’s a magical combination of talent that makes each of the 14 tunes sparkle and resonate in their own unique way.

 

The critics agree...

... and so do the media. Songs from “If Love Were All”are receiving radio air play across the U.S. and internationally, including three of the tunes being featured on Sirius XM’s “Siriusly Sinatra” Channel, which is owned and managed by the Sinatra family.

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Wayne invites you to “...share in the musical and lyrical truth, love and joy which we all brought to this special project, appropriately titled, “IF LOVE WERE ALL.”