Bruce Purse, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Purse is a trumpet player, bandleader, musician, composer, producer, vocalist, arranger, performer, music educator, and guest lecturer. He writes stories and plays. He plays various wind instruments; the trumpet, pocket trumpet, bass trumpet, and flugel horn. He has assembled large ensembles from a 11-piece bands to 30 piece orchestras. His premiere ensemble was called Bruce Purse and the Pocketbooks. The band performs originals in various genres such as; jazz, reggae, R&B, and heavy blues. Purse has performed with many well known artists, such as, Lester Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Faith Evans, Nas, Leona Lewis, and Johnny Kemp.
Purse describes himself as a sound mentalist. A mentalist practices Mentalism one who creates sound vibrations, music, and frequencies that create music. He creates music acoustically and digitally.
Purse is the president of bcpurse music.