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Biography
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Gene Townsél
Gene Townsél was born in the west coast Florida town of Palmetto. He was reared as the only child of Ralph and Ivory, and the grandson of the Rev. Chester Russelfield Townsel.
As Gene at an early age was exposed to the musical influence of his grandmother, his granduncle (Roy), along with the singing of his father, uncles, and aunts, he matured with an insatiable appetite for musical excellence.
Gene is a graduate of Florida A & M University, where he majored in vocal music, with concentrated study in choral methods and techniques, composition, orchestration, music theory and voice. During his tenure there, his activities included being spokesman and arranger for the University Quartet, vocalist for the University Jazz Band, soloist for the Opera Guild and Concert Choir, and a member of the KAPPA ALPHA PSI Fraternity.
Since graduation from the University, Gene has acquired international recognition as a vocal performer of note. He has performed on the stages of Acapulco, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Aruba, Curacao and Buenos Aires, to name a few, as well as major U. S. cities. To date, he has two albums to his credit, "Time Wounds All Heels" and "The 23rd Psalm", the latter containing the highly acclaimed title song that while being performed at the 1984 National Baptist Convention musical in Los Angeles, received a standing ovation by some 6,000 listeners. His writing has also found success in the musical theater where he wrote, produced, directed and orchestrated the musical "The Tie That Binds". Recently his 70s album "Time Wounds All Heels", has over the decades become a collectors item in the United Kingdom, and has spawned a re-release of two of the most popular cuts as a single. As a much sough after choral conductor Gene also founded the FIRST NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CHURCH MUSIC for the CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Gene founded The Gene Townsel Studio of Theatrical and Musical Arts where such artists as "Scat Man" Crothers and Marques Houston of "Immature" now "IMX" were regular clients. He also founded The Balance Town Music Publishing and Production Company, and The Artists Against Drug Abuse Program in Los Angeles California. As a vocal coach/teacher to professional and aspiring artists for over 40 years, Gene has used his experience as an Internationally Acclaimed Singer and his formal training (Florida A&M University) as a vocal music major, to help his students develop the tools necessary to be competitive in the industry. Some of his more notable students are Academy Award Nominee, Margaret Avery ("Sug" Avery/Color Purple), Verdell Brown (Keyboardist with Gladys Knight) and Damon Hines (Lethal Weapon) and has arranged scores for "Moesha" star Sheryl Lee Ralph at the beginning of her career in Japan. Gene is currently the owner of his own studio "The Source" in Deerfield Beach and still performs as a solo artist and conducts Singers Workshops for aspiring artists.
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