TC the 3rd
Rich jazz tones emanate from his soul, vocalizing rhythms and mesmerizing audiences the world over. He’s TC THE 3RD, a singer, songwriter, and producer. Known to jazz lovers as the Voice of Jazz. His roots are embedded in Jazz, nurtured by jazz lullabies because his mother, Trudy Pitts, an acclaimed organist, fed jazz notes to him, while his father, celebrated drummer Mr. C., instilled jazz beats into his very being. He was only fourteen when he began performing with Trudy Pitts and Mr. C.
He studied voice at the prestigious Settlement Music School in South Philadelphia – then effectively carried the Philly sound of Jazz to New York City and became recognized in the New York jazz scene as a Master of Jazz Vocal styling. His inherent love of music, along with his unique talent for vocalizing jazz which was influenced by jazz legends such as Eddie Jefferson, Leon Thomas, and Johnny Hartman, earned him accolades as the Voice of Jazz. An extraordinary jazz vocalist, his work ranges from rhythmically scatting jazz vocals to heartfelt renditions of the Great American Songbook.
TC has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean Islands and has collaborated and performed with countless legends, including Sun Ra Arkestra, Grover Washington, Jr., Art Blakey, Jon Henricks, Wynton Marsalis, and George Benson. A consummate vocalist and producer in 1997, TC brought the jazz world to attention. They produced a standing-room-only concert, “MEGA JAZZ EXPLOSION”, which featured an all-star cast of musicians that included Eddie Henderson, Don Braden Clifford Adams, Joey DeFrancesco, Orrin Evans, Elmer Gibson, Trudy Pitts, Mr. C. Gary Bartz, and others. The Philadelphia Tribune called it “The Greatest Show in 30 Years!!”
TC’s rendition of “Song for Debra” featuring Gary Bartz on saxophone blending voice with the
instrument in an indescribable display of synergistic perfection. The concert was recorded and released as his first album, “TC III LIVE” –A Mega Jazz Explosion,” produced by TC and Norman Connors. Jon Hendricks, The Godfather of Jazz Vocalese, wrote the liner notes.
His second project, “SHE DO WHAT SHE DO” with B. J. Jansen, Marcus Persiani, Kenneth Salters
Mike Boone, Floyd Bryant Davis, and Ms. Trudy Pitts’ “Psalm 150.” In 2021 TC recorded his third
project, “THE MUSIC” with Curtis Lundy, JD Allen, Byron Wookie Landham, Josh Evans and Marcus Persiani, is a journey through the best of jazz music, beginning with his opening heartfelt, empowering rendition, “The New Star Spangled Banner,” to the jazz standard “Bye Bye Blackbird” to his haunting sentimental love song, “Solar Sign.” TC is the recipient of the 2005 Anheuser-Busch/Jazz Mobile Vocal Competition and the 2011 Best Male Vocalist Performing Arts Award presented by the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz. A consummate jazz vocalist, TC THE 3RD captures the souls of jazz music lovers the world over, cementing himself as the Voice of Jazz.