WMJS Article

The West Michigan Jazz Society asked me to write a little article on my Father's passing. Mine was a bit long for publication so I've included the very nice extract they had room for and then my original article. It was very nice of them to honor my Dad and at the Banquet had me and relatives of other members passing this year, light candles in their honor! Thank you WMJS!

Max Colley Jr. was a music educator for over 40 years at Northview High School. The program at Northview, was built by Max and was well rounded in all areas including Marching Bands, Concert and Symphonic Bands, and of course his Jazz Ensembles. Many awards were earned over the years by many various organizations that recognized the excellence achieved by Max’s work with the ensembles. Max was also proud of the music appreciation course he taught that was taken by hundreds of students over the years, in which most of those students were not part of the instrumental music program. It was not Max’s goal that students would go on to become musicians or directors, but that each student felt a sense of belonging and worth and they would go on to have a greater appreciation for the gift of music. With that being said, the legacy of Band Directors and musicians that were inspired Max is far reaching. 
Max graduated from Godwin HS and then attended Grand Rapids Junior College, and Calvin College. In 1985 he was the first teacher at Northview recognized by the school board for Exemplary Service. In 1988 he was awarded by the MSBOA as Band Teacher of the Year, as I type this, he is being inducted into the MCBA Hall of Fame, and in 2016 Max was the first recipient of the WMJS Dr. Bruce Early Jazz Education Award a truly special honor as Max was friends with Bruce and it was presented by another friend Tim Froncek. 
Max’s favorite jazz musician was Stan Getz. Max loved both local and national jazz musicians and believed this was an art form that was passed down by generations and to that end, brought in many jazz artists to share life experiences and their talents with his students. Just to name a few, Steve Talaga, Tim Froncek, Dave Spring, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Belgrave, Terell Stafford, Frank Mantooth, Jimmy Forrest, etc… A much longer list over 40 years
Max was my biggest influences in my life both musically and personally. He was my first trumpet teacher. He exposed me to so many great musicians both in his high school bands and taking me to concerts, Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie being two of my first jazz concerts. He was my high school band director. Like so many other students, not only did he care for me the musician but me the person. He demonstrated love to me and so many others because of his believe in Jesus which was the core of how he treated others. 
I am proud to call Max Colley Jr. my Father. I know his legacy will live on for generations to come. 
Max Colley III