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Eugene Grey

EUGENE GREY is an internationally traveled and acclaimed Jamaican guitarist, arranger, composer, and music educator. According to Rootz Reggae & Kulcha magazine, “Eugene Grey is yet another of the many genius guitarists of world class status that Jamaica has produced” playing professionally from the age of 14. Eugene has toured worldwide as lead guitarist with such artists as Grammy Award winners Burning Spear and Toots and the Maytals, Sly and Robbie as well as Culture, Fab 5, and the internationally acclaimed Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Other artists Eugene has performed with include Max Romeo whom he toured with for the first time in Europe, Horace Andy, Big Youth, The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, America’s Singing Poet Steve DePass, West Africa’s Abdou M’Boup and Vieux Diop, Tony Cafresi and His Latin Orchestra, The Wailers, and The Skatalites.

Another aspect of Eugene’s career included performing as musician in theatre musicals. He was a member of the orchestra in the Off-Broadway play “In A Pigs Valise” in 1989; “Pecong” in 1991 at Newark Symphony Hall and the Off Broadway Classical musical “Sally and Tom” at Castillo Theatre in 1995/96. He was Musical Director for the Off-Broadway musical “Rasta” in 1995 as well as in 2004 for Irving Burgie’s musical revue “Day-O” at the Stratford East in London. Eugene had years earlier arranged 42 of the original songs of his longtime employer, Irving Burgie for this Broadway Musical review that were made famous by Harry Belafonte.

Eugene's extensive professional music experience coupled with his B.S. degree in Music Composition led him to be offered a Music Educator position in the Broward County Florida School system. He served four years teaching at several elementary schools and was presented with an Outstanding Service Award. During that same time the North Broward Medical Center presented a special award to his music program for participating in their 40th Anniversary Celebration.

In 2011, Mr. Grey co-founded with his wife Felicia Grey, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Rootz of Music, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing free music education and cultural enrichment programs to youth in under-served communities such as SOS Children’s Villages – Florida Inc., an institution providing care to children facing challenges with family support. Rootz of Music, under the leadership of Eugene Grey has been making a positive impact on the lives of under-served young people in our community. One of the goals of the organization is to preserve the historic story of Jamaica’s popular music through a series of presentations called American Roots of Jamaican Music at various Elementary, Middle and High schools. Eugene wants to use academia to preserve culture creating the blueprint for a curriculum in Jamaican music from Mento to the present genre. He is writing a book to highlight Jamaican musicians that have not been mentioned or mentioned very little.

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Recording

Eugene Grey Captures the Spirit of Wes Montgomery

Eugene Grey Captures the Spirit of Wes Montgomery

Source: All About Jazz

Greyphone Records along with The Orchard is releasing a new CD Timeless by their artist Eugene Grey, Jamaica's premier guitarist, retail and internet wide on July 30, 2002. This album features mostly jazzy instrumental interpretation of popular R&B and reggae hits with a tropical feel. Grey's biggest influence is another guitar great out of Jamaica, Ernest Ranglin, a mentor as well as a good friend.

The sites the CD will be available for purchase are amazon.com, cdnow.com, guitar9.com and theorchard.com ...

Primary Instrument

Guitar, electric

Location

Coral Springs

Music

Videos

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