About Cy Touff
Lived 1927 – 2003 (aged 75). Cy Touff was an American trumpeter and jazz musician.
Cyril James Touff (March 4, 1927 in Chicago – January 24, 2003 in Evanston, Illinois) was an American jazz bass trumpeter. He was one of the few jazz musicians known as a bass trumpeter. He was also associated with West coast jazz although he spent most of his life in Chicago.
He started on piano aged six and played xylophone and saxophone before settling on trumpet. He served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946, and in the military he played trombone. After the war, he switched to bass trumpet and worked with Woody Herman and Sandy Mosse. He joined Herman's band in 1953 and in 1954-55 played with a reduced version of the band that also included Richie Kamuca. He and Mosse led the Pieces of Eight octet in the late 1950s.
Discography Cy Touff, His Octet & Quintet (Pacific Jazz, 1955) Doorway to Dixie (Argo, 1956) Touff Assignment (Argo, 1959)
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Important facts
People in Cy Touff's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Cy Touff's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Cy Touff?
American jazz musician (1927–2003)
When was Cy Touff born?
Cy Touff was born on 4 March 1927 in Chicago.
When did Cy Touff die?
Cy Touff died on 24 January 2003 in Evanston.
What was Cy Touff's occupation?
Cy Touff was a trumpeter and jazz musician.
What nationality was Cy Touff?
Cy Touff was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Cy Touff. https://biography.guide/cy-touff/
MLA: "Cy Touff." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/cy-touff/.
Chicago: "Cy Touff." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/cy-touff/.
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