Donald Lee Grove, born December 31, 1946, departed this world the evening of March 16, 2020. Born in Colorado, the son of Robert Vincent Grove and Elizabeth (Betty) Josephine Grove, Don spent most of his life in his home state. Don was predeceased by his father, his brother Bob and his sister Carole. He is survived by his lovely 95-year young mother Betty, his brother Scott Grove, his much-of adult-life partner Linda Grove, his children Tracy Barker and Maera Joy Longwolf, his stepson Alex Gilliam Grove, and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Don grew up in the Denver area and was a graduate of Arvada High School. A gentleman first and foremost, he charmed everyone with his megawatt smile. He will always be remembered as a man who was there to lend a hand to anyone who needed help. In his later years, he turned his natural abilities to make and fix things into a handyman business, to the delight of his clients.
Don loved his dogs (Jazz, Lilly and Wrascal most recently), his family, friends and neighbors, cooking and eating great food, fishing, birdwatching, and the outdoors. He was endlessly fascinated by life’s spiritual mysteries, and always sought knowledge from many spiritual paths. In particular, Don was a student of American Indian culture, and studied many years with David Swallow, Jr., a spiritual leader of the Lakota Indian Nation. Some of his most prized possessions were ancient pottery shards and other Indian artifacts, many centuries old, as well as African art. Another was a giant abandoned hornet’s nest he kept in his bedroom – he called it nature’s artwork.
But of all his many qualities, most of all, Don was music. Always tapping on things as a child, a neighbor gave him an old drum set and from there on the sky was the limit. Don was never happier than when he played. Don was jazz, and blues, and bossa novas, and sambas and Dixieland and about any style rhythm you could choose. He lived it and loved it every minute. In the early 70’s he performed as the drummer for The Doobie Brothers (’70–‘71) and recorded with Six Penny Opera (’72-’73). Don’s musical score for the movie “Let There Be Rain” helped make it a Cannes Film Festival winner in 1971. Sought after by the best, Don worked with a long list of top professionals including Clark Terry, Herb Alpert, Mose Allison, Spike Robinson, Richie Cole, Rob Mullins, Harry Allen, Frank Tate, Rickey Woodard, Carl Fontana, Keter Betts, Plas Johnson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Warren Vache Jr., Rebecca Kilgore, Barbara Morrison, and many many others. In addition, working for Page Productions the 80’s and 90’s, Don booked top musical talent of all kinds into Denver. He performed in music concerts and festivals, large and small, throughout Colorado, and in 2002, Don was part of the Denver Jazz Quartet that headlined the 25th Annual Jazz Festival in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Don performed often in the Denver area at music venues including Dazzle, the Bull and Bush Brewery and Gabriels. He was the consistent rhythmic heartbeat of music groups including G.A.M.E.jazz, the Denver Jazz Quartet, the Scott Grove Quartet, Jazz Over Easy, and the Summit Jazz Hot 7. He was an integral part of the Doug Roche Trio and the “Ear
Reverence” band that played weekly at Living Water Spiritual Community. Fans would often write that they came to concerts just to see Don smile and hear him play. He richly deserved the reputation of being the most musical drummer ever. Musicians felt lucky to work with Don. He listened, really listened, and always added the right touches at the right places; seeming to almost read other musicians’ minds about what was needed where.
Sadly, Don was diagnosed in 2018 with esophageal cancer and underwent chemotherapy and surgery that year. But despite the medical success, Don never could regain his health and strength. He continued to play intermittently as he could and on March 4, recorded a great jam session with his G.A.M.E.jazz group. Don played brilliantly - you would never know from his music that he had medical struggles.
Don passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, including those who had cared for him daily after his surgery. Don had directed that a party be held following his passing, so that people could experience the joy he felt in life. That will be scheduled in the late spring or summer, and Don’s gift to all of us, his last recording, will be played for everyone to enjoy. He touched so many with his music. He was deeply loved. He will be greatly missed.
Don grew up in the Denver area and was a graduate of Arvada High School. A gentleman first and foremost, he charmed everyone with his megawatt smile. He will always be remembered as a man who was there to lend a hand to anyone who needed help. In his later years, he turned his natural abilities to make and fix things into a handyman business, to the delight of his clients.
Don loved his dogs (Jazz, Lilly and Wrascal most recently), his family, friends and neighbors, cooking and eating great food, fishing, birdwatching, and the outdoors. He was endlessly fascinated by life’s spiritual mysteries, and always sought knowledge from many spiritual paths. In particular, Don was a student of American Indian culture, and studied many years with David Swallow, Jr., a spiritual leader of the Lakota Indian Nation. Some of his most prized possessions were ancient pottery shards and other Indian artifacts, many centuries old, as well as African art. Another was a giant abandoned hornet’s nest he kept in his bedroom – he called it nature’s artwork.
But of all his many qualities, most of all, Don was music. Always tapping on things as a child, a neighbor gave him an old drum set and from there on the sky was the limit. Don was never happier than when he played. Don was jazz, and blues, and bossa novas, and sambas and Dixieland and about any style rhythm you could choose. He lived it and loved it every minute. In the early 70’s he performed as the drummer for The Doobie Brothers (’70–‘71) and recorded with Six Penny Opera (’72-’73). Don’s musical score for the movie “Let There Be Rain” helped make it a Cannes Film Festival winner in 1971. Sought after by the best, Don worked with a long list of top professionals including Clark Terry, Herb Alpert, Mose Allison, Spike Robinson, Richie Cole, Rob Mullins, Harry Allen, Frank Tate, Rickey Woodard, Carl Fontana, Keter Betts, Plas Johnson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Warren Vache Jr., Rebecca Kilgore, Barbara Morrison, and many many others. In addition, working for Page Productions the 80’s and 90’s, Don booked top musical talent of all kinds into Denver. He performed in music concerts and festivals, large and small, throughout Colorado, and in 2002, Don was part of the Denver Jazz Quartet that headlined the 25th Annual Jazz Festival in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Don performed often in the Denver area at music venues including Dazzle, the Bull and Bush Brewery and Gabriels. He was the consistent rhythmic heartbeat of music groups including G.A.M.E.jazz, the Denver Jazz Quartet, the Scott Grove Quartet, Jazz Over Easy, and the Summit Jazz Hot 7. He was an integral part of the Doug Roche Trio and the “Ear
Reverence” band that played weekly at Living Water Spiritual Community. Fans would often write that they came to concerts just to see Don smile and hear him play. He richly deserved the reputation of being the most musical drummer ever. Musicians felt lucky to work with Don. He listened, really listened, and always added the right touches at the right places; seeming to almost read other musicians’ minds about what was needed where.
Sadly, Don was diagnosed in 2018 with esophageal cancer and underwent chemotherapy and surgery that year. But despite the medical success, Don never could regain his health and strength. He continued to play intermittently as he could and on March 4, recorded a great jam session with his G.A.M.E.jazz group. Don played brilliantly - you would never know from his music that he had medical struggles.
Don passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, including those who had cared for him daily after his surgery. Don had directed that a party be held following his passing, so that people could experience the joy he felt in life. That will be scheduled in the late spring or summer, and Don’s gift to all of us, his last recording, will be played for everyone to enjoy. He touched so many with his music. He was deeply loved. He will be greatly missed.
Donald Lee Grove, born December 31, 1946, departed this world the evening of March 16, 2020. Born in Colorado, the son of Robert Vincent Grove and Elizabeth (Betty) Josephine Grove, Don spent most of his life in his home state. Don was predeceased by his father, his brother Bob and his sister Carole. He is survived by his lovely 95-year young mother Betty, his brother Scott Grove, his much-of adult-life partner Linda Grove, his children Tracy Barker and Maera Joy Longwolf, his stepson Alex Gilliam Grove, and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Don grew up in the Denver area and was a graduate of Arvada High School. A gentleman first and foremost, he charmed everyone with his megawatt smile. He will always be remembered as a man who was there to lend a hand to anyone who needed help. In his later years, he turned his natural abilities to make and fix things into a handyman business, to the delight of his clients.
Don loved his dogs (Jazz, Lilly and Wrascal most recently), his family, friends and neighbors, cooking and eating great food, fishing, birdwatching, and the outdoors. He was endlessly fascinated by life’s spiritual mysteries, and always sought knowledge from many spiritual paths. In particular, Don was a student of American Indian culture, and studied many years with David Swallow, Jr., a spiritual leader of the Lakota Indian Nation. Some of his most prized possessions were ancient pottery shards and other Indian artifacts, many centuries old, as well as African art. Another was a giant abandoned hornet’s nest he kept in his bedroom – he called it nature’s artwork.
But of all his many qualities, most of all, Don was music. Always tapping on things as a child, a neighbor gave him an old drum set and from there on the sky was the limit. Don was never happier than when he played. Don was jazz, and blues, and bossa novas, and sambas and Dixieland and about any style rhythm you could choose. He lived it and loved it every minute. In the early 70’s he performed as the drummer for The Doobie Brothers (’70–‘71) and recorded with Six Penny Opera (’72-’73). Don’s musical score for the movie “Let There Be Rain” helped make it a Cannes Film Festival winner in 1971. Sought after by the best, Don worked with a long list of top professionals including Clark Terry, Herb Alpert, Mose Allison, Spike Robinson, Richie Cole, Rob Mullins, Harry Allen, Frank Tate, Rickey Woodard, Carl Fontana, Keter Betts, Plas Johnson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Warren Vache Jr., Rebecca Kilgore, Barbara Morrison, and many many others. In addition, working for Page Productions the 80’s and 90’s, Don booked top musical talent of all kinds into Denver. He performed in music concerts and festivals, large and small, throughout Colorado, and in 2002, Don was part of the Denver Jazz Quartet that headlined the 25th Annual Jazz Festival in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Don performed often in the Denver area at music venues including Dazzle, the Bull and Bush Brewery and Gabriels. He was the consistent rhythmic heartbeat of music groups including G.A.M.E.jazz, the Denver Jazz Quartet, the Scott Grove Quartet, Jazz Over Easy, and the Summit Jazz Hot 7. He was an integral part of the Doug Roche Trio and the “Ear
Reverence” band that played weekly at Living Water Spiritual Community. Fans would often write that they came to concerts just to see Don smile and hear him play. He richly deserved the reputation of being the most musical drummer ever. Musicians felt lucky to work with Don. He listened, really listened, and always added the right touches at the right places; seeming to almost read other musicians’ minds about what was needed where.
Sadly, Don was diagnosed in 2018 with esophageal cancer and underwent chemotherapy and surgery that year. But despite the medical success, Don never could regain his health and strength. He continued to play intermittently as he could and on March 4, recorded a great jam session with his G.A.M.E.jazz group. Don played brilliantly - you would never know from his music that he had medical struggles.
Don passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, including those who had cared for him daily after his surgery. Don had directed that a party be held following his passing, so that people could experience the joy he felt in life. That will be scheduled in the late spring or summer, and Don’s gift to all of us, his last recording, will be played for everyone to enjoy. He touched so many with his music. He was deeply loved. He will be greatly missed.
Don grew up in the Denver area and was a graduate of Arvada High School. A gentleman first and foremost, he charmed everyone with his megawatt smile. He will always be remembered as a man who was there to lend a hand to anyone who needed help. In his later years, he turned his natural abilities to make and fix things into a handyman business, to the delight of his clients.
Don loved his dogs (Jazz, Lilly and Wrascal most recently), his family, friends and neighbors, cooking and eating great food, fishing, birdwatching, and the outdoors. He was endlessly fascinated by life’s spiritual mysteries, and always sought knowledge from many spiritual paths. In particular, Don was a student of American Indian culture, and studied many years with David Swallow, Jr., a spiritual leader of the Lakota Indian Nation. Some of his most prized possessions were ancient pottery shards and other Indian artifacts, many centuries old, as well as African art. Another was a giant abandoned hornet’s nest he kept in his bedroom – he called it nature’s artwork.
But of all his many qualities, most of all, Don was music. Always tapping on things as a child, a neighbor gave him an old drum set and from there on the sky was the limit. Don was never happier than when he played. Don was jazz, and blues, and bossa novas, and sambas and Dixieland and about any style rhythm you could choose. He lived it and loved it every minute. In the early 70’s he performed as the drummer for The Doobie Brothers (’70–‘71) and recorded with Six Penny Opera (’72-’73). Don’s musical score for the movie “Let There Be Rain” helped make it a Cannes Film Festival winner in 1971. Sought after by the best, Don worked with a long list of top professionals including Clark Terry, Herb Alpert, Mose Allison, Spike Robinson, Richie Cole, Rob Mullins, Harry Allen, Frank Tate, Rickey Woodard, Carl Fontana, Keter Betts, Plas Johnson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Warren Vache Jr., Rebecca Kilgore, Barbara Morrison, and many many others. In addition, working for Page Productions the 80’s and 90’s, Don booked top musical talent of all kinds into Denver. He performed in music concerts and festivals, large and small, throughout Colorado, and in 2002, Don was part of the Denver Jazz Quartet that headlined the 25th Annual Jazz Festival in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Don performed often in the Denver area at music venues including Dazzle, the Bull and Bush Brewery and Gabriels. He was the consistent rhythmic heartbeat of music groups including G.A.M.E.jazz, the Denver Jazz Quartet, the Scott Grove Quartet, Jazz Over Easy, and the Summit Jazz Hot 7. He was an integral part of the Doug Roche Trio and the “Ear
Reverence” band that played weekly at Living Water Spiritual Community. Fans would often write that they came to concerts just to see Don smile and hear him play. He richly deserved the reputation of being the most musical drummer ever. Musicians felt lucky to work with Don. He listened, really listened, and always added the right touches at the right places; seeming to almost read other musicians’ minds about what was needed where.
Sadly, Don was diagnosed in 2018 with esophageal cancer and underwent chemotherapy and surgery that year. But despite the medical success, Don never could regain his health and strength. He continued to play intermittently as he could and on March 4, recorded a great jam session with his G.A.M.E.jazz group. Don played brilliantly - you would never know from his music that he had medical struggles.
Don passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, including those who had cared for him daily after his surgery. Don had directed that a party be held following his passing, so that people could experience the joy he felt in life. That will be scheduled in the late spring or summer, and Don’s gift to all of us, his last recording, will be played for everyone to enjoy. He touched so many with his music. He was deeply loved. He will be greatly missed.
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