Purnell Steen, a joyous Colorado jazz pianist-bandleader and tireless civil rights advocate, died on Nov. 18. He was 84.

Steen was seemingly always illuminating Denver area stages with his formidable keyboard skills and graceful wisdom. His website lists a show with one of his bands, Purnell Steen & The Five Points Ambassadors, at Dazzle earlier this month. Despite increasing health issues, he made the gig.

Born on April 15, 1941, at Denver’s Mercy Hospital, Steen was attracted to music as a young child, telling the Colorado Music Experience podcast that he was given a toy piano at the age of 3.

“The black keys were painted on,” he said.

Steen studied music at Denver’s East High School and the University of Colorado Boulder before establishing himself on the local music scene.

Sever

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