BY HOWARD CAMPBELL—-    Freddie McGregor— Summer has been a busy period for reggae artists for 40 years. Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Burning Spear and Peter Tosh were some of the music’s pioneer road warriors. Today, the Jamaica Observer starts a series looking at artists, booking agents and shows active during this period. Freddie McGregor is one of the reggae veterans on the tour circuit this summer. The 60-year-old singer has been on the road for over 30 years. He kicks off his European campaign on Friday with the first of three dates at O2 venues in the United Kingdom. The veteran singer, whose latest album True To My Roots will be released June 1 in Japan, opens at the O2 Academy in Manchester.  The following day, he performs at the O2 Academy in Birmingham. On the … Read entire article »

Freddie McGregor with two of his children—Stephen & Daniel—  It is true that there is a form of stigma attached to black fathers, especially those who have managed to make a name for themselves. But McGregor has managed to defy the odds and strike the perfect balance between his thriving career and his role as a father. “We must admit as fathers that some of us get caught up with the hype and the glare and the glitter and sometimes tend to forget who we are. People who are not fully grounded could be caught up in the hype. Some fathers have become neglectful because of that but when I go out there to work, my main goal is to come home and take care of the family. Life has ups and downs … Read entire article »