Jack G. Graves (1927-2001) studied piano and cello as a child , and wrote his first musical composition at age twelve. He worked in a record store while attending Northern High in Flint, and played cello in the Flint Symphony. In 1946, he studied at Bethany College in Lindsborg , Kansas and played cello in the Bethany Symphony Orchestra. He later moved to El Paso, Texas, and played in the El Paso Symphony Orchestra , and managed a record store there.

Jack studied piano and composition at the Naval School of Music in Washington , D.C. Eager to enjoy the mountains and waters of the Pacific Northwest, he moved to Seattle, Washington in 1949, studied at the Cornish School and played in the Seattle Civic Orchestra, which performed several of his compositions. In 1950, he became a representative for Capital Records in Portland, Oregon. In 1953, he returned to Seattle and was a representative for Columbia Records until 1976.