Tag: Charles Burrell
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Top of the poll: It’s John Denver, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Highlight
The Colorado 150, Part 6 of 6: When choosing the state’s most significant cultural pathmaker, the choice between Helen Bonfils and the beloved singer came down to a soccer match After six months of deliberation, it comes down to this: The woman who gave Denver its class. Or the man who gave Colorado its voice.…
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Purnell Steen, ‘the elder statesman of jazz music in Denver,’ has died
Founder of The Five Points Ambassadors was a cousin of Charles Burrell, Dianne Reeves Storied piano player Purnell Steen, a member of Denver’s first family of jazz, died Tuesday (Nov. 18), it was announced today on his website. Steen, 84, was a first cousin to legendary bassist Charles Burrell, who died on June 17 at…
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Iconic Denver bassist Charles Burrell dies at 104
Legendary bassist Charles Burrell, the first Black member of the Denver Symphony Orchestra in 1949, died on Tuesday. He was 104. Burrell broke the color barrier as the first African American to sign a full-time contract with a major American symphony orchestra and was widely regarded as the “Jackie Robinson” of classical music. Born in…
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World War II veteran Charles Burrell honored with affordable housing development in Five Points
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Denver leaders gathered to celebrate the grand opening of a new affordable housing development named in honor of jazz musician and World War II veteran Charles Burrell. Burrell has been called the “Jackie Robinson of jazz music” and is a world-renowned bassist. He was the…