The younger brother of producer/composer Dave Grusin, Don Grusin is an excellent keyboardist who has had his own solo career. He originally avoided music (not wanting to be in his brother's shadow), becoming an economics professor and not becoming a full-time musician until 1975. At that time, he put together a band to tour Japan with Quincy Jones, freelanced in Los Angeles, and headed the group Friendship which recorded for Elektra in 1978. Grusin recorded a few albums for JVC in the early '80s; and in 1988, with Sticks and Stones (a collaboration with brother Dave), Don Grusin began recording regularly for GRP, playing music that (although influenced by pop) is also somewhat adventurous within the crossover genre. Grusin received a Grammy nomination for his 2004 live album The Hang, and played keyboards on Paul Winter's 2008 Grammy-winning album Crestone. Grusin continues to perform, record and produce music internationally and also teaches a multidisciplinary course at the ATLAS Institue at the University of Colorado. He released the solo album Piano in Venice on JVC in 2008.

~ Scott Yanow, Rovi