John Grant Sangster was born on November 17, 1928, in Sandringham, Melbourne, Australia. He taught himself to play cornet during high school and formed his first band. In 1948, he performed at the third annual Australian Jazz Convention. The following year, he led John Sangster's Jazz Six and later joined Graeme Bell and his Australian Jazz Band, touring extensively from 1950 to 1955. He experimented with various instruments, including vibraphone, and collaborated with notable musicians such as Don Burrows. In the late 1960s, Sangster worked with rock musicians, joining Tully for the original Australian production of Hair. His most notable works include a series of albums inspired by The Lord of the Rings, starting with The Hobbit Suite in 1973. He also composed scores for television shows and films. Sangster published his autobiography, Seeing the Rafters, in 1988. He passed away on October 26, 1995, in Brisbane, Queensland.
