Once in a while someone comes along that greatly touches people's lives in a beautiful and meaningful way, often through the arts.
I have been privileged in my lifetime to have known more than my share of such people: my dad, Ralph Miller, my college band director, Barry Jones, and my friends O.J. Bailey, Morris Bales, Jim Wilson and finally but never least, Jay Craven.
I grew up in a musical home with a dad who was first a professional musician and then a music educator. So it was inevitable that I would come into contact with Jay Craven. But little did I know how much that would be throughout the years.
Jay Craven was more than a friend and fellow musician. In 1962, he introduced me and two other rising sophomores, Bob Bogart and Dennis Jones to playing in the high school swing band at City, taking his own personal time in the summer to help us green kids to be ready to play with the upper class men.
He directed us in our first musical comedy using the original Broadway book. He never gave up on us and worked us as hard as professionals demanding our best. That was because he was not only a fine musician, but an outstanding teacher and conductor who knew how to get the most from his students.
In 1971, Mr Craven took a chance and hired me to be a band director in the Chattanooga Public Schools. From there I began a 40 year career in education and throughout that time we continued our contact. As musicians we performed in musical groups together including the Cotton Ball and stage shows at the Memorial Auditorium and Tivoli as well as many other venues.
In the late 1990s, I discovered I was his granddaughter's principal, a job he nor I would have ever imagined my being back when I was sitting under his baton at City High.
And more recently I would see him playing his clarinet at Memorial Hospital providing an uplifting service for so many that only Jay could do.
And even though, like so many of his contemporaries, when he easily could have done so, he didn't leave his home town to play with the pro bands. He stayed here, returning to his alma mater to contribute and touch untold numbers of students, sharing his knowledge and passion for music.
So many more wonderful things could be said about him and will, but his love of music and his unselfish desire to share it with so many will be a lasting tribute to Mr Craven. He will be missed.
Ralph Miller
* * *
Thanks to my fellow City High School classmate Ralph Miller for his eloquent tribute to Jay Craven. Jay is a member of the CHS Hall of Fame and along with Dr Jim Henry are the only two members honored as both a student and faculty member.
In 2016 Jay was honored as the CHS Alumnus of the Year, only the 7th graduate to be so honored.
RIP Maestro, you put on a heck of a show.
Douglas Jones
Chairman, CHS Hall of Fame Committee
* * *
I was very sad to read of the passing of Mr. Jay Craven. I could not let his passing go by without saying how he personally had an impact on my life as it relates to music.
I grew up in a home which listened to of all genres of music. My mother is a excellent singer and a founding member of the Chattanooga Choral Society and church choir member so I was around music for all of my early childhood years.
I was a student at the first Orchard Knob Elementary School. The school's choral department - under the leadership of Mrs. Kelly, participated in a city-wide musical celebration at the Memorial Auditorium. Music departments from elementary schools representing the entire Hamilton County school system participated. We had rehearsed for months for this concert. At the dress rehearsal at the Auditorium entered this man who directed us. He had complete control of directing all of what had to be hundreds of students. When we got back to the school, I asked Mrs. Kelly who that man was and she said Mr. Jay Craven. I was in awe of the music we sung as well as how he was able to direct so many kids in perfect harmony. Yes, even at that early age I wanted to direct choirs. To make my story short, I still remember my favorite songs, word for word, from that concert which were "If Only I Could Fly Just Like An Eagle" and "Fifty Thrifty United States".
It was from that concert that my interest peaked in wanting to direct choirs and write songs. When I made it to the former Brainerd Junior High School, I had my greatest musical influence under Mr. C. LaMonte Hogan. I told Mr. Hogan of my interest in writing songs. I wrote two songs and sang them for him and he put the piano arrangement to them both. Mr. Hogan some kind of way arranged for me to sing at UTC during a program, and let me sing on of my original songs. Looking back now we should have copyrighted them. My musical influences did not let up there, at Brainerd High School I was directed by the late Mr. Lee Norris Mackey and the late Mr. Black where I learned so much more from each of them. I did go on to sing in choirs, serve as choir director at my church as well as arrange choral music.
I just had to write in words on the seed Mr. Jay Craven planted in my life as it relates to my love and appreciation of music
I have been out of high school for over 30 years now and I know that there are others that have the same appreciation for Mr. Craven as I do.
My sincere condolences to his family.
Mrs. Kimberly Strong
* * *
Thank you Ralph Miller for your beautifully written comments about Jay.
My heart is broken at the passing of my friend and mentor. Godspeed, old friend.
Bob Bogart
* * *
My first full time job was with the Board of Education around 1965. At that time some of the subjects were taught by way of television. Mr. Jay Carven was supervisor of the Music Department, during this time. Integration had not not taken place. Dr. C. C. Bond was over the whole department.There were very few blacks in that department.
I was very young and he showed me so much kindness and was always welling to help me if I needed it.
Julliette A. Brown