Eugene Grey 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, as well as Culture, Fab 5, and the internationally acclaimed Kid Creole and the Coconuts. More recently Mr. Grey established a music base in Argentina where he was invited to perform several times since 2007. His latest attendance was in 2013 where Mr. Grey completed a successful one month long tour to sell out crowds at venues from Buenos Aires to Nuequen, backed by the local band Sessiones Reggae Instrumental. In addition, Eugene, by special invitation of the Province of Patagonia Argentina conducted music workshops. These workshops and clinics were conducted as part of his nonprofit Rootz of Music, Inc., that was founded in 2011 to provide music education and cultural enrichment performances to underserved communities. That same year saw Eugene perform as guest artist on the Reggae Jazz Fusion at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts featuring the legendary Jamaican jazz pianist Monty Alexander. Mr. Grey released his latest solo double album CD called Diversity in 2010 and was inducted into the Bob Marley School of Music Walk of Fame. His official debut release Timeless (Greyphone) in 2002 was nominated for a 2003 Reggaesoca Music Award. In June 2004 Eugene released Shades of Grey (Greyphone) which was also nominated for a Reggaesoca Music Award in 2005. Beat Magazine (2004) states Eugene Grey soars on Shades of Grey (Greyphone); the roots reggae version of a smooth-jazz album that showcases his stylized virtuoso electric guitar with soft backing vocals, chunky tracks bedded by real bass, drum and subdued keyboards. All of Eugenes releases were recorded at his own studio, Tropic Isle Recording Studio, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale where he is the engineer. The studio has evolved over the last 21 years and is currently equipped with the latest software to handle live and MIDI recordings. Tropic Isle not only records Eugenes projects but also the projects of other artists. Two songs on Ernie Ranglins latest release Surfin (Telarc), Dance All and Yu Si Mi were recorded at the studio as well as Eugene playing guitar. 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, Americas Singing Poet Steve DePass, West Africas Abdou MBoup 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 Yorks club Village Gate. In 1992 Eugene performed with his group, POWER REGGAE as the opening act and backing band for Jamaicas Gregory Issacs in Switzerland. He has recorded on all of the albums by Kid Creole and the Coconuts including arranging the song Haiti on their 1994 project. Eugenes contribution to other recordings include the album Voice of the Rastaman by Shanachie artist Ras Tesfa and on the 1995 album Via Jo by Triloka artist Vieux Diop from Senegal, West Africa. As mentioned before, he recently played on two songs of Ernest Ranglins 2005 release Surfin (Telarc). Another aspect of Eugene\'s career included performing as musician in theatre musicals. Off-Broadway musical Rasta in 1995 as well as in 2004 for Irving Burgies musical review 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. These songs were made famous by Harry Belafonte 50 years ago. His arrangements garnered extensive praise from Mr. Burgies label Cherry Lane Records. Eugene released in 2007 another project called Authentic. This album comprises all original material with the exception of an arrangement of Bob Marleys song Jammin giving rise to the name authentic. It was during this year that he first traveled to Argentina to perform. Eugenes show was such a success that he was invited back in 2008 to perform as well as having a compilation CD called Our Song released in Argentina. During all of 2009 Eugene toured worldwide with Sly and Robbie as the lead guitarist.
Website: www.eugenegrey.com
GMP Profile URL: http://www.globalmusicproject.com/eugenegrey
Tamarac,US