{"id":1319011,"date":"2020-03-22T18:28:01","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T00:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/covid-19-takes-local-entertainment-icon\/"},"modified":"2020-03-22T18:28:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T00:28:01","slug":"covid-19-takes-vail-area-entertainment-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/covid-19-takes-vail-area-entertainment-icon\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 takes Vail-area entertainment icon"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8069989395546\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-994942-895\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Daily file photo | Vail entertainment icon Rod Powell died Saturday of complications from coronavirus. Friends said he also suffered from COPD and diabetes.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Vail entertainment icon Rod Powell died Saturday of complications from coronavirus. Friends said he also suffered from COPD and diabetes.<\/strong><br \/>Daily file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Vail entertainment icon Rod Powell died Saturday of complications from coronavirus. Friends said he also suffered from COPD and diabetes.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-1-1024x768.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Special to the Daily | Best friends and brothers, Shannon Tanner, left, and Rod Powell outside Beaver Creek's Powder 8 cafe where Tanner plays apres ski and was often joined by Powell.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Best friends and brothers, Shannon Tanner, left, and Rod Powell outside Beaver Creek&#8217;s Powder 8 cafe where Tanner plays apres ski and was often joined by Powell.<\/strong><br \/>Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-1-1024x768.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Best friends and brothers, Shannon Tanner, left, and Rod Powell outside Beaver Creek's Powder 8 cafe where Tanner plays apres ski and was often joined by Powell.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-2-1024x716.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Special to the Daily | Along with other Hall of Fame musicians, Rod Powell jammed with The Doobie Brothers. That's Rod, back row fourth from left.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Along with other Hall of Fame musicians, Rod Powell jammed with The Doobie Brothers. That&#8217;s Rod, back row fourth from left.<\/strong><br \/>Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-2-1024x716.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Along with other Hall of Fame musicians, Rod Powell jammed with The Doobie Brothers. That's Rod, back row fourth from left.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-3-1024x768.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Special to the Daily | Among his many passions, Rod Powell loved to sail.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Among his many passions, Rod Powell loved to sail.<\/strong><br \/>Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-3-1024x768.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Among his many passions, Rod Powell loved to sail.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-4-1024x846.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Special to the Daily | This is March 6 during the 35th annual Tuxedo Ski Day on Vail Mountain and is Rod Powell's last public appearance. Powell did not miss a Tuxedo Ski Day in three and a half decades. That's him in the middle with the white jacket and no hat. As you can see he is happy with this hair. His lack of it is one reason you rarely saw him without a hat.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>This is March 6 during the 35th annual Tuxedo Ski Day on Vail Mountain and is Rod Powell&#8217;s last public appearance. Powell did not miss a Tuxedo Ski Day in three and a half decades. That&#8217;s him in the middle with the white jacket and no hat. As you can see he is happy with this hair. His lack of it is one reason you rarely saw him without a hat.<\/strong><br \/>Special to the Daily<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/RodPowellCovidDeath-vdn-032220-1-4-1024x846.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"This is March 6 during the 35th annual Tuxedo Ski Day on Vail Mountain and is Rod Powell's last public appearance. Powell did not miss a Tuxedo Ski Day in three and a half decades. That's him in the middle with the white jacket and no hat. As you can see he is happy with this hair. His lack of it is one reason you rarely saw him without a hat.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/covid-19-takes-local-entertainment-icon\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/covid-19-takes-local-entertainment-icon\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The pandemic sweeping the nation has claimed the life of a Vail musical icon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Rod Powell, 64, who delighted apr\u00e9s-ski crowds for decades in Vail with his musical talents, died from complications from coronavirus. He is the first Eagle County victim of COVID-19, according to Eagle County Public Health and Environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cRod Powell was a legend in Vail and brought joy to so many over his tenure as Vail\u2019s No. 1 entertainer,\u201d Shannon Tanner, his longtime friend and fellow musician, said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Powell, who played for decades at Pepi\u2019s and other watering holes around Vail, was the first to welcome Tanner as a \u201ckid entertainer\u201d from South Carolina.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI learned much from Rod Powell. \u2026 His friendship I treasured. There is a hole in the world today,\u201d Tanner said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Powell\u2019s sister, Nancy Powell Wilson, said her brother\u2019s memorial service can wait until the pandemic has passed, probably this summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Powell skied March 6 at the 35th annual Tuxedo Party on Vail Mountain with friends from Vail and his native Missouri.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt was one of those bluebird days,\u201d long-time friend Heather Lemon said, who was along for what turned out to be Powell\u2019s last ski day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">His friends said something might be wrong when Powell was not at church the following Sunday. He almost never missed church.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He went to his doctor Monday, March 9, and his doctor sent him to the hospital. On Wednesday, March 11, he was transferred from Vail Health Hospital to Presbyterian St. Luke\u2019s Hospital in Denver, where he was placed on a ventilator. He died Saturday morning after a two-week battle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He had COPD and diabetes, so he had underlying conditions to go with the COVID-19, friends said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">Musician, mentor, friend<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Powell spent years singing on Pepi\u2019s deck and entertaining tens of thousands of visitors over his 32 years there. He was always quick with a joke, always remembered his fans and played the meanest version of \u201cHotel California\u201d around.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He was also a real estate agent, most recently with Berkshire Hathaway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI had the good fortune to know him, and be entertained by him, both as a member of the community and our company,\u201d said firm president Michael Slevin, who grew up in Vail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Kevin Denton also grew up in Vail being entertained by Powell. Also a broker at Berkshire, Denton became a friend of Powell\u2019s when the latter joined Berkshire\u2019s Vail Village office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe was one of the biggest characters,\u201d Denton said. \u201cHe was really the poster child of Vail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Denton said Powell\u2019s death makes the seriousness of COVID-19 very real.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s hit home a lot harder now that one of our close friends is gone,\u201d Denton said. \u201cHopefully everybody takes it a lot more seriously. We\u2019ve all got to do our part,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Over the course of his career, Powell played with his own band, had a recording that made Billboard\u2019s top 100, did a stint with the New Christy Minstrels and entertained people around the world on cruise ships. He performed for ambassadors in Europe, movie stars and for President Gerald Ford. Gregory Peck watched Powell\u2019s first gig at Pepi\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Powell jammed with Hall of Fame musicians including the Doobie Brothers, Dan Fogelberg, Edwin McCain and Stephen Stills. He played Vail during ski season and headed for the Caribbean in the summer before moving to EagleVail full time in the late 1990s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He loved sailing and once had a boat. He loved a good fire, blue Powerade, going to the casino in Black Hawk and was a regular at the Riverwalk movie theater. He knew almost everyone in the area and had an anecdote about each one. Powell had strong faith in God and most recently attended the Vail Church.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Although he never married or had children, he loved helping kids. One of his proudest accomplishments was fundraising for the Colorado Make-A-Wish Foundation. He used his connections to secure donations for auctions and helped organize concerts with fellow Vail area musicians to raise funds for the organization. He and Tanner, his best friend, were privileged to ski with a young man whose wish was to experience Vail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Rod Powell was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, June 5, 1955, the son of Robert and Doris Atkins Powell. He attended Central High School, where he began his musical career, and Missouri Western State University, where he pledged Tau Kappa Epsilon. His parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, who lives in St. Joseph.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThe news of this loss in our community serves as a solemn reminder that COVID-19 can pose greater risks to some members of our community, in particular older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions. We must all take steps to protect our families, ourselves, our friends, and our community,\u201d said Heath Harmon, director of Eagle County Public Health and Environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\">Vail Daily reporters Scott Miller and Tricia Swenson contributed to this story.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/covid-19-takes-local-entertainment-icon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vail entertainment icon Rod Powell died Saturday of complications from coronavirus. Friends said he also suffered from COPD and diabetes.Daily file photo Best friends and brothers, Shannon Tanner, left, and Rod Powell outside Beaver Creek&#8217;s Powder 8 cafe where Tanner plays apres ski and was often joined by Powell.Special to the Daily Along with other [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1319011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-04 05:48:55","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1319011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319011\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1319011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1319011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1319011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}