In my search to learn about big band leaders of whom I had not been previously aware, I came across the name Teddy Powell. Mr Powell (1905-1993) was a jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader who had significant success in New York for a brief period of time in 1939. The emphasis here is on “brief.”
As Scott Yanow at AllMusic writes:
For a brief period in 1939, Teddy Powell led one of the top big bands in jazz. With an ensemble full of top musicians, Powell had a very successful six-week run at the Famous Door in New York. Powell bragged that he had done in a short time what it taken Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey years to accomplish. But once he took his band on the road, the lack of name recognition resulted in small crowds, money began to be lost and the more notable sidemen left for other lucrative jobs. The fantasy was quickly over!
Before the band foundered they did record some notable sides including: “Teddy’s Boogie Woogie,” “Pussy in the Corner.” “Flea On a Spree,” and “The Sphinx,” every one an original by Powell, composed with Ben Homer.
At various times band members included: Irving Fazola, Pete Mondello, John Austin, Nick Caizza, Carmen Mastren, Ely Davis, Hugh Brown, S.J. Kramer, John Popa, Jerry Shane, and Irwin Berken. Powell left band-leading in 1954 and formed a music publishing company in New York City, which did well.
I guess for every big bander leader more widely known, there are a few who never really made it.