Tracy Purcell was born December 6, 1924 in Saratoga Springs, New York. He attended Saratoga Springs High School and later went on to earn a degree in Commercial Agriculture from Cornell University. Purcell served in the Navy during World War II from 1942-1945. He also attended the State Police Academy in Albany, New York, and was a New York State Trooper from 1946-1951. In 1948, Purcell acted as the bodyguard to presidential hopeful Governor Thomas Dewey. Upon completing his service as a Trooper, Purcell became a private investigator for Lincoln Investigations, Inc.. He then pursued careers in management and business. Purcell owned his own recording studio, called Pulse Records, and a private investigation agency. Purcell maintained homes in both New York and St. Petersburg, Florida for a number of years. On May 16, 2008, Purcell succumbed to esophageal cancer and died at the age of 83 in Florida.

Purcell was a creative individual and an active musician since the 1930s. In the 1950s, Purcell formed a duo with his new wife, Harriet Purcell, both playing piano. As their six children began to express interest in music, the ensemble grew and changed, taking on the names Tracy Purcell and the Jokers, and the Purcell Family Band. Upon the death of Harriet in 2001, Tracy went on to become the Saltwater Blues Man.

Biographical History was developed from the contents of the collection.