- Bross Townsend
Bross Elvie Townsend, Jr. (October 18, 1933,
Princeton, Kentucky - May 12, 2003,New York City ) was an Americanjazz andblues pianist.Townsend's father was also a pianist, who started his son on the instrument at age seven. He moved to
Cleveland in 1933 and attended theCleveland Institute of Music in addition to accompanying local singers such asLittle Jimmy Scott andWynonie Harris . He played freelance from 1953 withGene Ammons ,John Coltrane ,Memphis Slim , andJimmy Reed . Townsend was active inNew York City from 1959 almost up until his death in 2003; he worked there withWarren Smith (in the Composer's Workshop Ensemble),Carrie Smith ,Bubba Brooks ,Woody Herman ,Diana Ross ,Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre ,Arvell Shaw ,Bob Cunningham , andBernard Purdie , in addition to performing solo. He did several tours of Europe as a solo performer. Townsend wentblind in the middle of the 1990s but continued to perform. His only album as a leader was 1995's "I Love Jump", released onClaves Jazz .References
*Otto Flückiger, "Bross Townsend". "Grove Jazz" online.
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