Known as Mr. Groove in the Canadian music scene, Terry Gillespie was inspired at the earliest of ages, seeing the blues greats Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and more. His sound evolved, taking along the blues, rock and reggae. Living in Jamaica, his story became completely clear where he created the foundation of his signature sound now. The man, Terry Gillespie will return to The Cove stage on Thursday, July 18 with his Jamaican musical partner, Crystal Axe! Details and reservations here: web link

Q: It goes without saying that you have been a fixture of the Canadian blues and reggae scene for a long time! What was that moment that you realized, you wanted to really blend the styles?

Terry Gillespie: Arriving in Ottawa in 1968, the first person I met was a Jamaican man. I walked right up to him and asked: "Where is the music?” His response was, “My house”. At his house, I tasted Jamaican food and heard reggae music for the first time. I recognised something in the music I was searching for, the same thing I was searching for in the blues which was the African soul of the music. At that moment I experienced the same ‘rush’ I felt when I first heard Miles Davis and Muddy Waters. I knew there was a deep soulful inside and a continuity in the music that if you research it long enough - it begins to reveal itself. To me, blues, soul, funk and reggae come from the same roots and it is my job to trace those roots.

Q: Heaven's Radio was a great success of yours with radio play in Canada and the US. Can you tell us some highlight memories that people might not have heard otherwise?

Terry: Here you go. In 1973 I got a call, an emergency gig opening for Manfred Mann. Mahogany Rush pulled out at the last minute and we stepped in. We start playing and next thing you know, vegetables are being tossed at us from the audience because we weren’t a heavy metal band:) However, it wasn’t long before we got’em! The gig ended on a high note and bonus, we collected the veggies and went home and made soup.

Q: James Doran of Choose the Blues brought you into The Cove as part of Blues on the Rideau. He has been a close friend and great musical supporter of yours for years! Briefly, what is your story together?

Terry: James Doran and I have a unique history going back a few decades now. He introduced himself to me at a Toronto Blues Society conference. He knew our music, which immediately gave us a shared passion to discuss. We also share a strong affection for British motorcycles and have ridden together from time to time. We have been to his house and he has been a visitor to our house. We are friends. We also mourn the loss of his late wife Diane, she was a special person and donated herself feely to supporting music she liked.

Q: Since being attracted to reggae, you had the fortune of meeting and working with Crystal Axe, your partner on this tour. What was the attraction that sparked your musical connection and how has it been keeping it going from Ontario to Jamaica?

Terry: The answer to this comes straight out of the first chapter of our book. In 2014 when Crystal Axe and I were reunited after having a 20 year acquaintance, we were on Calico Jack’s Pirate Island at Half Moon Beach. Crystal started humming out of nowhere and I added the tap. That was the humble origins of today’s continually growing musical partnership between us. After that, Crystal started dropping in to Half Moon Beach when I was playing and she got it! She knew there was something there she wanted to explore. The opportunity came in 2016 when Crystal took over ‘No Name Bar’ in the Westend of Negril. She invited me and my band to perform frequently and regularly. It was not long before Crystal started to sit in with the band. I was already familiar with Jamaican music as I had released 2 reggae albums in 1976 and 1980, but for Crystal it was a new adventure to learn a genre she was attracted to but never explored. The blues. Musically we were drawn together naturally, no discussion!

Q: Moving forward with Crystal Axe and the touring band, what are your plans together as a group? Any recording on the horizon? Moving to Jamaica...?

Terry: Funny you should ask as we are just in the embryo stage of a new recording. Stay tuned. The release date is as yet unknown. My wife and I are permanent residents of Jamaica and can travel there freely as Crystal can travel and work here freely on her visa. Basically aside from geography and culture our experiences in both countries are the same. Posted: Jul 8, 2024 Originally Published: Jul 5, 2024