John Magruder, 77; Inspired 2 Generations of Music Students

John Magruder, a composer, arranger and musician who inspired two generations of West Los Angeles high school music students, has died. He was 77.

Magruder, the former music department chairman at University High School, died April 11 of complications from diabetes at a hospital in Panorama City.

Born Nov. 19, 1925, in Greenwich, Conn., Magruder began playing professionally at age 13, when he led his own jazz combo at the 1939 World’s Fair.

While working on his master’s in music education at New York University in the late 1940s, he played with jazz pianist Horace Silver and worked as a studio musician.

Magruder, who led a quartet throughout the 1950s, moved to Los Angeles in 1957 and began teaching two years later.

He joined the music department at University High in 1964.

Over the next four decades, Magruder combined teaching, playing and composing.

He played baritone sax with the Don Ellis Orchestra from 1965 to 1968. (Magruder’s “Zim” is featured on Ellis’ “Shock Treatment” album.)

From 1973 until he was hospitalized in January, Magruder wrote for and performed with his own 18-piece big band, the Magruder Machine, which rehearsed at Magruder’s Sherman Oaks home and played at Donte’s, Carmelo’s and other local jazz clubs.

Over the years, Magruder wrote music for radio and TV commercials, scores for American Film Institute short films and arrangements for singers, as well as symphonic pieces.

In the 1960s, he wrote the music and co-wrote the book, with Kent Rogers, for two musical comedies that have been performed in local schools, “The Village Square” and “A Fair Wind to Belford.”

At University High, where many of his former students have gone on to play in major symphony orchestras, Magruder put in stints of teaching the history of jazz and orchestration at Santa Monica College and Los Angeles Valley College.

In 1974, then-Mayor Tom Bradley presented Magruder with a special award for his work with young people in music.

“He had such a joy for music,” said Magruder’s wife, Joy. “He just wanted to share that with others -- to let them have the same good life he had.”

Magruder retired from teaching at University High in 2000 and returned to playing music full-time, often being hired by former students for movie and commercial dates.

In addition to his wife of 30 years, he is survived by his children, Joseph Magruder, Scott Mitchell, Ann Bonk and Debbi Cassidy; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.