Prior to winning the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship Mr. Busbee had been selected as Best Jazz Soloist at the Walt Disney All American Music Festival (1992) and the Los Nedanos College Festival (1993). In 1994 he received a $1000 jazz scholarship to attend Cal State Hayward and in 1995 began attending William Paterson College in New Jersey.
At the International Trombone Festival , University of Illinois, Michael was featured with trio on ÒJazz at the InterludeÓ and shared the stage with the Eastman-Winding Septet .On the closing night of the Festival Michael led off a special jazz showcase and shared the stage with Bill Watrous, Bill Reichenbach, Michael Davis, Raul DeSouza, Bruce Paulson, and Tony Garcia. He lists as teachers, Conrad Herwig, Steve Turre, Robin Eubanks, John Gove, Hall Goff and Van Hughes.
Professor Emeritus Grissom is co-sponsor of the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship for Jazz Trombone along with the International Trombone Association and is currently serving on the International Trombone Association scholarships, awards, and prizes committee. He is executive director of the Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund, Inc. and a member of the Southern Arts Federation Jazz Advisory Panel.
* The Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund, Inc., shall provide a funding mechanism for the promotion of and assistance to the performance of jazz trombone, to provide educational opportunities for the study of jazz trombone, and to encourage participation in jazz trombone performance.