February 12, 1923:
Melvin Epstein (Powell) is born in the Bronx, New York, USA the son of Milton Epstein and Mildred Mark, both Jewish immigrants from Russia.
July 23, 1946:
Mel Powell (23) marries Martha Ellen Scott, a well-known actress, in Las Vegas. He is presently a pianist for the Benny Goodman Band.
May 22, 1963:
The American Academy of Arts and Letters awards $2,500 grants to Mel Powell (40) and Vladimir Ussachevsky (51).
January 26, 1990:
Duplicates for two pianos and orchestra by Mel Powell (66) is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles. Powell will win the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for music for this work. See 12 April 1990.
April 12, 1990:
Mel Powell (67) is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his Duplicates: A Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra. See 26 January 1990.
March 15, 1997:
Levertov Breviary for voice and piano by Mel Powell (74) is performed for the first time, at Harvard University.