Dick was active in Southern California Jazz and musical communities dating back to the mid-1950s. He was the pianist for the Westlake College of Music Quintet, which won the “Easter Week, Intercollegiate Jazz Festival”, sponsored by Howard Rumsey. Also, the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach. John Graas was one of few French-Horn musicians who specialized in Jazz. He also composed and arranged the album. The award-winning quintet recorded an album [DL 8393] for Decca – College Goes to Jazz – The Westlake College Quintet. We have attached a video tribute to this group and the music from this album for your review at the end. Westlake would be Dick’s final teaching position. It is the archetype of Jazz conservatories. The college was established in 1945 in a Beaux-Arts home near 6th Street and Alvarado. It is not far from downtown Los Angeles. The college is no more in existence. Later, he founded his Dick Grove School of Music in San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles. His school taught harmony classes.
