Law student Wayne McGregor's passion for music

Wayne McGregor

"MY LOVE of music takes up a large part of my life. It is my passion and it helps to keep me centred in a world that can bombard a person from all sides with negativity and bad influence."

This was stated by 25-year-old Wayne McGregor, guitarist and erudite law student who is on his way to qualifying as a member of the legal fraternity.

The great influences in his life have been Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Third World, Eric Clapton, Steel Pulse and his mother, Dr. Paulette McGregor, an academic of Oxford, Barry and Western Pacific Universities, who remains his role model and confidante. He has also had great support from father Everton McGregor, brother Marc, mentor Peter Morais, friend Christiana Fenton and businessman Glen Biggs.

Dr. McGregor, who hosts 'Frank And Upfront' on RJR, helped Wayne to buy his first guitar at age 17 and he

painstakingly taught himself the fretboard.

"As my playing and my voice began to develop, my own individual sound and style were established," he said.

"Bravery and perseverance eventually got the better of me and I started playing with anyone I could. This attitude paid off as I became a regular at Carlos Cafe, and the Devon House Grog Shoppe, which exposed me to Rupert Bent Jnr. and Lloyd Foulkes." he continued.

Wayne eventually formed his own band, The Good The Bad And The Ugly, with Norman Hill, Shane Forrest and Brendan Evans, with the motivation of Floyd Foulkes and owner of the Grog Shoppe, David Carvalho. The group did gigs at Carlos Cafe, Zanzibar, Moon Struck and Strawberry Hill.

In 1997 while pursuing his law degree in Barbados, he played with the band Blue Therapy, the earnings from which helped to finance his studies.

"Playing not only assisted me in easing the stress of law studies, but was also an avenue to earn money to supplement my finances," he said.

The musical turning point came with his collaboration with guitarist Omar Francis, known as Two Guitars. After that he formed the band Ace, with Gordon Scott, Javier Ochua, Ace, Paul Kastik and Richie Patterson. Wayne expects to work with a government office this summer and qualify for the bar next year. He also has plans to study music professionally and keep the Ace band on the stand.

"What I have learnt, is that it's important to be a good listener, respect people's opinions and take time out to appreciate other performers' contributions to the art world. That way one will always be in tune with the changing world," Wayne said. - Ossie Clarke

- Contributed

Back to Entertainment