Born: March 4, 1927 | Died: January 24, 2003 Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Cy (Cyril James) Touff played bass trumpet, an unusual horn then and now. He took up the instrument in the late 1940s, having earlier played piano, saxophone, xylophone, trumpet and trombone.
He studied with Lennie Tristano in his native Chicago, and played with a number of band leaders there. He worked with Woody Herman from 1953-6, and spent time on the west coast, where he performed and recorded with Ritchie Kamuca and others.
He returned to Chicago in the mid-50s, and continued to perform and do session work into the 1980s.
Last Updated: August 31, 2008
I always enjoyed hearing Cy play. When I lived in Chicago in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I heard Ears play at Andy's every Tuesday night from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. They were terrific. Cy was a great guy! George Spink (Tuxedo Junction)
Sorry, no recommendations at this time.
