Employee Spotlight: Del Ray Grace Jr. Keeps Toledo Flowing on the Job and Rocking with Local Band Distant Cousinz
Our City of Toledo employees bring a remarkable range of talents and passions to their work and their communities. Del Ray Grace Jr. is a perfect example. Not only does he keep the city’s sewer system running smoothly, but he also brings energy and joy as a musician on stage. Born and raised in Toledo, Del Ray Grace Jr. has always been surrounded by music.
“Music has been part of my family my whole life,” he said. After graduating from Jesup W. Scott High School, where he played in the marching band and honed his skills as a drummer, Grace found a way to make music part of his career and his life. “Playing music is not just a hobby, it’s part of who I am,” he said. “It keeps me connected to my community and my family.”
In 2012, a fellow musician reached out to him with an urgent request. “The drummer in the band quit without notice, and they needed someone fast. I stepped in, and that was the start of my journey with Distant Cousinz,” he said.
Today, he plays bass for the band, which formed in 2008 and covers genres from country and reggae to classic and alternative rock. “This band is a breath of fresh air for me,” Grace said. “I love making people feel good, watching them dance and enjoy themselves. And there’s nothing like getting paid to do what you love.”
“Music gives me a way to express myself that I don’t always get to do at work,” Grace said.
Distant Cousinz has opened for nationally recognized acts, including Creed at Boom Fest in 2023, Morris Day and The Time in 2018, and Kool & the Gang at Promenade Park in 2021.
Off stage, Grace works for the City of Toledo as a sewer maintenance worker in the Sewer and Drainage Division. He joined the City in March 2023 and appreciates how the schedule allows him to balance both of his passions.
“Working for the City is meaningful because I get to help maintain something everyone depends on every day,” he said. “My work with the City gives me a good balance. I don’t have to worry about missing band practices or shows, and that means a lot. There’s a sense of pride in knowing that what I do helps keep the city running smoothly," Grace said.
Balancing his day job and music isn’t always easy, but for Grace, the payoff is worth it when you love what you do. "Sometimes it’s a juggling act, but both parts of my life feed each other. The discipline from my job helps me stay focused in music, and the creativity from music helps me approach my work with fresh eyes.”
For Grace, both jobs are ways to contribute to his community. “I’m proud to work for the City, keeping Toledo’s infrastructure running smoothly,” he said. “And through music, I get to bring joy to people’s lives. It’s rewarding in different ways.”
His musical journey is also a family affair. His son, Del Ray Grace III, known as “Three,” has been drumming since he was very young and often performs alongside his father in Distant Cousinz.
“Playing music with my son is one of the greatest joys I have. It’s more than a band, it’s family,” Grace said.
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