According to Rootz Reggae & Kulcha magazine (2004), “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. Born in Green Island Jamaica in 1951, he went to Ruseas High School in 1963 where he started playing the harmonica in the School Band. After winning 1st place in the Pop and Mento competition in 1964, he taught himself to play the trombone, drums, piano and lastly the guitar, which he made.
Besonic.com (2006), the German music internet site states “Eugene's playing recalls the fluidity of Charlie Christian, the creativity of Wes Montgomery, and the first-class execution of George Benson while sounding completely unique - an incredible feat given the deep talent pool of past and present jazz axemenâ€. This extraordinary style was showcased to a packed house in Argentina November 2007 where Eugene, backed by the local band Sessiones wowed the crowd as the headliner at the La Trastienda Club. This is a venue that has hosted the likes of the Wailers and the Skatalites.
Eugene has toured worldwide as lead guitarist with such artists as Grammy Award winners Burning Spear and Toots and The Maytals, Ras Tesfa, Culture, Fab 5, Irving Burgie and Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Other artists Eugene has performed with include 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. While with The Skatalites Mr. Grey performed with Charlie Palmieri and Arthur Blythe at New York’s club ‘Village Gate’.
In addition to performing with these distinguished acts, Eugene performs his original compositions with his own group. He released his official solo album Timeless (Greyphone) in 2002 that was nominated for a 2003 Reggaesoca Music Award. 2004 saw his performance at the Suntrust Jazz Brunch at Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale coincide with the release of Shades of Grey (Greyphone) which again was nominated for a 2005 Reggaesoca Music Award. In March 2007 he performed as the opening act for Dionne Warwick on March 25, 2007 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. This performance was also a vehicle to showcase the release of his latest project Authentic (Greyphone).
As well as his own recordings, Eugene has recorded on several notable artists’ releases. One being the 2006 release of his mentor and friend, Ernest Ranglin’s Surfin’ (Telarc). He has also recorded on all of the albums by Kid Creole and the Coconuts including arranging the song “Haiti†on their 1994 project. Others include, Ras Tesfa’s Voice of the Rastaman (Shanachie) and on the 1995 album “Via Jo†(Triloka) by artist Vieux Diop from Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Grey composed and arranged an original piece “Song for Jah†which was featured on the album “Another One Gone†(Shanachie) by artist Safi Abdullah.
Another aspect of his career is performing as a member of the orchestra in several Off-Broadway plays and musicals such as “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 also was Musical Director for the Off-Broadway musical “Rasta†in 1995. In 2005 Eugene was in London as Musical Director for Irving Burgie’s musical review “Day-Oâ€. Eugene was commissioned to re-arrange 42 of the original songs of his longtime employer, Irving Burgie made famous by Harry Belafonte for this review.
Eugene believes that he was given a gift of music ability which has to be shared. Therefore, he constantly strives to give of himself and his talents. Performing, recording as well as teaching, allows him to realize that desire.
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