NY cabbie lifts Freddie McGregor’s spirits on an unsettling day
Big Ship captain to perform at sold-out London concert Sunday
Published:Saturday | August 21, 2021 | 12:09 AMYasmine Peru - Senior Gleaner Writer
In the middle of an on-the-go interview last Wednesday with Freddie McGregor about his recent award, the reggae singer jumped into a taxi and asked the driver to take him to JFK airport, but he was cut off mid-sentence by an excited cabbie.
“Hey! You are Freddie McGregor! You are the greatest!” he said in a huge fan moment. “This is Freddie McGregor; he is the greatest!” the enthusiastic New York cab driver shouted to anyone who would listen.
Gracious as always, McGregor ‘bless up’ his fan and then told him exactly which terminal he was heading in order to catch his flight to London. McGregor will be performing on Sunday at the sold-out Reggae On The Heath concert, alongside David Rodigan & The Outlook Orchestra, Horace Andy, Bitty McLean, plus Gentleman’s Dub Club, Channel One Sound System and Don Letts. The concert will be held at the prestigious Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, London, the longest-running outdoor music venue in the UK.
It was an unsettling day in some ways for the Big Ship captain, and the cabbie certainly provided him with a much-needed smile. He had spent the morning dealing with matters relating to his travel to Britain, which was made even more challenging because he had been let down by those in authority who had offered to assist by paving the way smoothly.
“But that is for a different article. A total stranger who I don’t know from anywhere – a lady name Betty – came to my rescue, and I am very thankful to her. But God is always guiding and looking out for us on the road. God is good,” he said.
Last Wednesday was also challenging for an entirely different reason. It was the birthday of Dalton Browne, McGregor’s guitarist, musical director and the man who was “like a brother”. Browne’s passing in November 2020, after undergoing a quadruple bypass surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies, had totally devastated McGregor and had plunged the music industry into mourning.
“Today is Dalton’s birthday,” he said wistfully. “But, yuh know, it’s as if I can feel Dalton’s spirit with me,” he added and quickly shifted the mood as he started to conduct the interview. “So, this award, let me tell you all about it.”
FREDDIE MCGREGOR DAY
The city of Hartford, Connecticut, USA, now recognises August 14 as Freddie McGregor Day, in honour of his “significant contribution to the art form of reggae music for over five decades”. The committee of the annual West Indian Independence Celebration, an event that is hosted each August in Hartford to celebrate Jamaica’s Independence, made the recommendation and submitted McGregor’s name to the city council. He was given the plaque and citation on August 14 at the celebratory event.
“Any kind of accolade is greatly appreciated. I was not overly surprised, but it was certainly unexpected, and it came on a beautiful day when I performed at a very nice concert,” McGregor said.
Junior Wellington, the entertainment chairperson for the committee, told The Weekend Gleaner that Hartford statistically has the third-largest West Indian population and that McGregor is the first Jamaican he has seen receiving this award.
“This proclamation is handed out to deserving people because of their contributions, and Freddie is one such. He has performed here on several occasions, and his work ethics are commendable. It is not an official holiday, but August 14 will always be recognised within the government. There is a plaque with Freddie’s name on it that will be displayed where everyone can see it,” Wellington explained.