Legendary Rock Promoter 

Willard Boyd Grafmyre a legendary music promoter, known to Seattle as the “Mahatma of Rock” passed on Monday, December 9, 2019 at the age of 79 in Port Townsend, WA. He graduated from Queen Anne High School (Class of 1959) and studied at Pasedena Playhouse in California. Boyd was drafted shortly after and spent time serving his country in the Army. From the late 1960’s to early 70’s Boyd was very instrumental in establishing the rock scene in Seattle, WA. He worked hard in bringing some of the top musicians such as The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, Chicago, Elton John, Alice Cooper and many more on the stage at places like the Eagles Auditorium and Seattle Pop Festival. The Seattle Pop Festival was the biggest venue in the area at the time which lasted three days.
Thousands of people showed up each day to experience the revolutionary music and best acts in the music industry. Boyd was born in Bellingham, WA. on March 2, 1940 at St. Luke’s General Hospital. Boyd is the son of Margaret Allene Peterson and Harry Malcolm Grafmyre. Faith Smith was his loving sister who is also deceased. His son’s Dylan and Damien Grafmyre will carry on his name and he also has been blessed with three grandchildren, Jacob, Sebastian, and Rose Elane. His boys have heard the tales of this rock icon, but have also seen another side of him which is a person that would
hand out clothes and food to people in his community. Damien Grafmyre states, “One of his best qualities was that he always knew how to make people feel good and smile.” Seattle’s “Mahatma of Rock” will truly be missed and hopefully his final act will keep the music alive!