July 7, 2010

Singer/movie star Dick Powell was born in Mountain View (Stone County) in 1904. His interest in singing developed at an early age, and, by the mid-1920s, he was touring the world as a band singer. His success led to starring roles in numerous Warner Bros. movie musicals. By the 1930s, he was one of Hollywood’s top box office draws. Growing tired of musicals, he began looking for a change. That change came in 1944 when he was cast as the detective Philip Marlowe, which led to a succession of starring roles as a hard-boiled anti-hero. After retiring from the big screen, he embarked upon a successful career as a director and producer.