Born in New York City, Townes’ earliest experiences with the piano came from his music teacher mother when he was still a toddler in Okinawa, Japan, where his father was stationed in the army. The family settled in El Paso, Texas in 1971, and soon after that, Townes began formal classical training on his primary instrument while also learning drums and, later, marching in his high school band. Townes' initial exposure to jazz as a teenager transformed his life instantly.

Townes took his artistry to another level and became a nationally recognized jazz artist with Sun City at Night, his first recording with the current core Modern Session lineup, which along with Foster also included Demetrius Williams and Marty Olivas.

Founding his own label Shade Records in 1997 marked a turning point in Townes’ career, as he blazed a trail that many independent pop and jazz artists would follow when digital downloading became the standard in the 2000s.