Remembering Michael Grace
I met Michael Grace in 1978 when I joined the faculty of Henry Ford Community College’s wonderful summer jazz program. We became fast friends. I remember being particularly struck by his talent as a player, as a teacher, and as a communicator.
So, in 1980, when I made the tough decision to leave the jazz program that I’d started at Ann Arbor Community High School, I recruited Mike to move from Grand Rapids and take it over. I knew he had the skillset to be successful there. I also knew that he had never held a job for more than a few years, so I was hoping three, maybe four. Wow! In his 28 years as director of jazz at CHS, he elevated the program to heights that exceeded my own dreams and ambitions, earning national and international accolades for himself and his amazing combos.
Over the years our friendship led to shared gigs, each other’s weddings (loved being his best man), baby sitting and lots of laughs. Facebook kept us in touch when he and Cheryl moved to Canada.
Mike Grace, who died March 13 at age 83, leaves a legacy of talented, erudite former students who thoroughly enrich the jazz scene —locally and beyond. They keep his beat alive.