John Griggs (February 11, 1930 - September 24, 2009) founded the Griggs School of Music in 1957, he taught thousands of pupils to play jazz guitar and classical guitar. Many of his pupils have become teachers and performers in their own right. Also, John established the first guitar department at the college level in the state of Virginia in the early ''70s and then taught guitar for Old Dominion University, Virginia Wesleyan College, and Tidewater Community College until the early ''90s, in addition to his own private teaching.

Besides teaching, John performed with the John Griggs Trio. They have performed in concert with such notables as Charlie Byrd and Carlos Barbosa Lima.

John also sponsored the Griggs School of Music Concert Series, the most prestigious concert series to be presented in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area of Virginia. The series presented the world's greatest artists in concert, i.e., Andrés Segovia, Isaac Stern, Beverly Sills, Van Cliburn, Victor Borge, Roberta Peters, Carlos Montoya, Dave Brubeck, Alicia DeLarrocha, Peter Nero, The Houston Ballet, Jose Greco, Roger Williams, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, John Williams, and Julian Bream, to name but a few.

John also found time to transcribe, arrange, and compose works for the guitar. He has been published by Warner Bros., CPP Belwin, Mel Bay Publications, and Columbia Music Company. His music has been recorded on Concord Records, Bird Records, Unart Records, and United Artists Records. John was a pupil of Sophocles Papas.

A music scholarship fund is being established in his memory. Contributions may be sent to:
Concordia University Texas
11400 Concordia University Dr.
Austin, TX , 78728
Contributions may also be made to the Humane Society of VA.