He is a bass singer, musician and arranger who studied music education, composition, theory and woodwinds at Indiana University Bloomington.
He has performed as a choral singer from 1972 to 2012, in the chorus at the New York City Opera from 1984 to 1990 and with the a cappella singing group The Flirtations from 1989 to 1994, who he recorded two albums with and appeared in the film Philadelphia. After leaving The Flirtations he pursued his solo career and has since been a member of the New York Vagabonds and from 2013 has been a choir singer at the Old First Presbyterian Church.
Singing on many recordings, he has performed on albums that include his own Out Here On My Own along with Musical Retrospective by Alvin Ailey, An American Voice by Peter Buchi, Legacy by Michael Callen, Christmas Eve and A Victorian Christmas by the Robert DeCormier Singers, Live: Out on the Road by The Flirtations, Songs for the New Depression by Bette Midler and Souvenirs: 20 Musical Mementos from the New World by the Quintet of the Americas.
Robert DeCormier Singers and Ensemble recordings
Blessed Be That Maid Mary (Traditional 15thC English/George Ratcliffe Woodward)
Arabesque Z6525 (CD – A Victorian Christmas’)
Conductor and arranger – Robert DeCormier
He performs here..
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliff-townsend-62775a50
- https://www.queermusicheritage.com/may2013flirts.html
- https://www.academia.edu/28027273/_Something_Inside_So_Strong_The_Flirtations_and_the_Queer_Politics_of_A_Cappella
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cliff-townsend-mn0002156157/biography
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cliff-townsend-mn0002156157/credits
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/1011652-Clifford-Townsend