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]