In 1985 he started recording with Phenomena for their self-titled first album, which was released the same year, when he joined up with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake as a member of Emerson, Lake & Powell.
Затем Пауэлл выступал с целым рядом групп: Michael Schenker Group с 1981 по 1982 годы, Whitesnake c 1982 по 1985 годы, затем в 1986 году примкнул к группе ELP, с которой записал альбом "Emerson, Lake and Powell".