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 has been invited to perform several times since2007. His latest attendance was in 2013 where Mr. Grey completed a successful one month long tour in to sell out crowds at venues from the big ciyt of Buenos Aires to the small province of 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 Artsfeaturing the legendary Jamaican jazz pianist Monty Alexander.
Mr. Grey released his latest solodouble album CD called Diversity in 2010 and was inducted into the Bob MarleySchool of Music Walk of Fame. His official debut release Timeless (Greyphone) in2002 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 asmooth-jazz album that showcases his stylized virtuoso electric guitar withsoft backing vocals, chunky tracks bedded by real bass, drum and subdued keyboards.”
All of Eugene’s 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 Eugene’s projects but also the projects of other artists. Two songs on Ernie Ranglin’s latest release Surfin’ (Telarc), “Dance All” and “YuSi 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, America’s Singing Poet SteveDePass, West Africa’s Abdou M’Boup and VieuxDiop, 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 1992 Eugene performedwith his group, POWER REGGAE as the opening act and backing band for Jamaica’s 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. Eugene’s 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 Ranglin’s 2005 release Surfin’ (Telarc).
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” atCastillo Theatre in 1995/96. He was MusicalDirector for the Off-Broadway musical “Rasta” in 1995 as well as in 2004 forIrving Burgie’s musical review “Day-O” at the Stratford East in London. Eugene had years earlier arranged 42 of theoriginal songs of his longtime employer, Irving Burgie for this BroadwayMusical review. These songs were made famous by Harry Belafonte 50 years ago. His arrangements garnered extensive praise from Mr. Burgie’s label CherryLane Records.
Eugene released in 2007 another project called“Authentic”. This album comprises all original material with the exception of an arrangement of Bob Marley’s song Jammin’ giving rise to the name authentic. It was during this year that he first traveled to Argentina to perform. Eugene’s 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.