Honoring Purnell Steen

“And you know, when I leave this Earth, I just want to have somebody put on my headstone, ‘Here was a man who loved music and who loved people.’” ~Purnell Steen

Quote from the Denverite, ‘Purnell Steen, a jazz legend and civil rights activist has died at 84’ by Rachel Estabrook

April 15, 1941 – November 18, 2025

Click the image to read or watch the article honoring Purnell Steen

7News clip with Purnell Steen at the piano

More Info & Memorial Events Will Be Shared as They Are Received

If you’d like a tribute or event to be considered for this webpage, email it to Kelley@DazzleDenver.com.

Purnell Steen sitting at a piano with a microphone in front of him. Lady getting ready to cut an onion.

Purnell Steen laughing

Denver piano player great Purnell Steen in 2012 (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston sits with Purnell Steen on piano at the promotional launch of Denver Arts Week on Nov. 1, 2024, at Dazzle Denver (John Moore, Denver Gazette)

Denver News7 coverage of Purnell Steen. He is playing the piano.

Purnell Steen playing the piano on 9 News

Purnell Steen's coverage in Denverite. Photo of Purnell Steen and le Jazz Machine's 'Swing Shift' record

Purnell Steen sitting at a piano, looking at him from the inside of the piano with a mural of Ron Miles playing the cornet in the background.

Denver's Five Point neighborhood was known as the "Harlem of the West" because of the number of live music and clubs and the caliber of performers who played them, on Denver7

Purnell Steen speaks on NBC 5 in Dallas Fort Worth, TX on his "proudest moment of being an American" and what made him return to music

Purnell Steen sits at the piano in Dazzle with sunglasses on his head and a mural of Ron Miles in the background.