‘A Breath Of Fresh Air’ For Freddie McGregor

Big Ship Boss Freddie McGregor is on the brink of releasing a new album, after signing a publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music last month.

“So, I have just completed a new album produced by my cousins, Stingray Music out of London,” McGregor told DancehallMag. “It has been in the making for about two years, so every time I go to London, we spend our time in the studio recording different tracks. So now, we (that) have completed that project, the title will be A Breath Of Fresh Air.”

The release date is still uncertain, however, McGregor insisted that the set, which comes after his 2017 project More Love In The Ghetto, will contain no more than 10 tracks.

The 65-year-old has more than 40 albums to his name.

McGregor, who was nominated for the Best Reggae Album at the Grammy Awards in 2002, also recently released the single Don’t Tell Me No, in collaboration with Colombian reggae-fusion rock band Locos Por Juana, and Jah Is On My Mind, produced by UK-based Stingray Records.

The new album is expected to show a fresh side of the I Was Born A Winner singer.

“We were just listening to the tracks, and I suggested (that) this sounded like a breath of fresh air, and everyone thought that that should be the title and I think it sticks. So, that will be the title,” he added.

McGregor hails from Hayes in Clarendon. He began his music career at seven years old at the legendary Studio One with Fitzroy “Ernest” Wilson and Peter Austin, founding members of The Clarendonians. Wilson took the youngster under his wing and recorded several songs under the name Fitzy and Freddie.

He was conferred with the Order of Distinction in 2003 by the Jamaican Government for his contribution to music.

Meanwhile, McGregor said another album to be released subsequently has been in the works from before the death of Dalton Browne, former guitarist, background vocalist and musical director for the Big Ship ‘captain’ for many years.

“Dalton and I started work on what would have been my new album. We had already laid down over 10 tracks. We did all live recordings at Mixing Lab Studio in Kingston. Then, do everything else at Big Ship Studio.”

“Since the passing of Dalton, I (haven’t) gone back to those tracks as yet. That project is slated for release sometime in 2023,” he told DancehallMag.

McGregor however intends to return to the drawing board regarding that set, before a myriad of tours and appearances this year.

“In February, I will start working to finish that project before my touring starts in March at the Moon Splash Festival in Anguilla,” he said. “Followed by a major festival in Virginia, then (a) festival in Baltimore. I was at the Royal Albert Hall in London with David Rodigan and his Outlook Orchestra, plus other shows in the US before returning to the UK for another festival with David’s Orchestra on June 19.”

“(We will) continue touring until October when we head out to Africa for my Africa, Here I Come tour starting in West Africa, (and) ending in Nairobi in December 2022.”

As a child, McGregor was a part of The Clarendonians, one of Jamaica’s most successful Ska and early Reggae groups.  He was co-opted to the group after the suggestion was made by legendary record producer Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd of Studio One.   Freddie, it was said, was so tiny at the time, that he had to stand on a beer crate to reach the microphone.

Coxsone later paired McGregor with Ernest Wilson of The Clarendonians as ‘Fitzy and Freddy’ on the hit single Why Did You Do It I in 1966, which was Freddie’s first recording.