Bross Townsend
Bross Elvie Townsend Jr. (October 18, 1933 – May 12, 2003) was an American jazz and blues pianist.[1]
Townsend was born in Princeton, Kentucky.[1] His father was also a pianist, and started his son on the instrument at age seven.[1] Townsend moved to Cleveland in 1951 and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music.[1] He accompanied local singers such as Little Jimmy Scott and Wynonie Harris and played freelance from 1953 with Gene Ammons, John Coltrane, Memphis Slim, and Jimmy Reed.[1] He made several tours of Europe.[1]
Townsend was active in New York City from 1959 almost up until his death there in 2003; he worked with Warren Smith (in the Composer's Workshop Ensemble), Carrie Smith, Bubba Brooks, Woody Herman, Diana Ross, Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Arvell Shaw, in addition to performing solo.[1] He was also a member of The 3B's, with Bob Cunningham and Bernard Purdie.[1] Townsend went blind in the middle of the 1990s but continued to perform.[1] He often backed vocalist Carrie Smith.[2]
Discography[edit]
- As leader/co-leader
- What a Body – Bross Townsend and his trio – GP label GBTB 5030
- 1995: I Love Jump Jazz (Claves Jazz)
- 1998: I Got Music on My Mind (BNH)
- With The 3B's
- 1993: After Hours with The 3B's
- 1994: Soothin' n Groovin' with the 3B's – additional personnel: Eunice Newkirk (vocals); Donny Albano, Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Rob Paparozzi (harmonica); Houston Person (tenor saxophone); Fred Smith (trumpet).
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Flückiger, Otto (2003). "Townsend, Bross (Elvie, Jr.)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ Rye, Howard (2006). "Smith, Carrie". In Komara, Edward (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Routledge. p. 896. ISBN 978-0-415-92699-7.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1933 births
- 2003 deaths
- People from Princeton, Kentucky
- American jazz pianists
- Cleveland Institute of Music alumni
- Blind musicians
- American blues pianists
- American male jazz pianists
- Jazz musicians from Kentucky
- Blues musicians from Kentucky
- 20th-century American pianists
- 20th-century American male musicians
- The 3B's members
- American blind people
- American musicians with disabilities