About Us
Meet Rocke
Rocke “Roche” was born August 19, 1951 in Huron to Richard Thomas and Mary Alyce (McAloon) Grace and graduated from Huron High in 1969. On May 27, 1980 he married Deborah Anne Goralczyk in Rapid City. He was a Beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
Rocke is survived by his wife; Deborah, daughter; Roxanne Rathbun, husband Oakley Rathbun, children Amelie, Bijou, Scarlet, Wilem and Weston, daughter; Ava Johnson, husband Tyler Johnson, children Winter, Wyatt and Wryder, daughter; Dore Grace, husband Alain Guittard.
Rocke Grace – Lifetime Achievement Award
The South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame is proud to honor Huron native Rocke Grace with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Rocke is a talented keyboard player who has played with some of the most recognizable names in American rock music.
Rocke started playing with South Dakota bands the Squires, the Natives, the Trees and Rushmore. He has been inducted into the rock hall of fame in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and now his home state. He was inducted with Sound of Fate, the Young Raiders, the Blue Things, the Flippers and Barnstorm.
He is a gold, multi-platinum, and diamond-selling songwriter. As the original keyboard player with Joe Walsh and Barnstorm, his playing earned him three BMI awards for hitting over three million airplays. Rocke is the co-composer of the rock standard “Rocky Mountain Way,” the theme for the video game Grand Theft Auto, which sold $400 million within its first week of being released.
Rocke’s soulful composition “Midnight Moodies” is featured on the same album as “Rocky Mountain Way.” His songs have been recorded by The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Ozzie Osborne, Dave Matthews, Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, Michael Bolton, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Kid Rock, Little Richard and many more.
Rocke’s musical genius has been heard in many movies: “Spy Game,” “Beverly Hillbillies,” “Defiance,” “Devil’s Reject” and others. He has appeared on Midnight Special, Dick Clark, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and Drew Carey. Roche has worked or recorded with UFO, G, Tom Mac, the Pointer Sisters, Max Karl, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Alphonse Mouzon, Robert Fleishman, and Robin Ford. He received 2 additional honors from the SDRRHF in 2018 for The Young Raiders 2019 The Trees.
Rocke passed suddenly on July 23, 2020. His last years were heavily burdened by the complications of Autoimmune Disease. He relied on doctors visits and medications to keep his symptoms under control. He spent his last decade chasing the pain and sicknesses that plagued him.
We pledge to do better, learn more, and advocate for the people like Rocke.