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RIP Will MacGregor

FlyingV73

FlyingV73

Oct 23, 2017
134
181
U.S.A
#1
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#2
FlyingV73 said:
Don't know if anyone really posted about my buddy bassist Will MacGregor passing a few weeks back. He was a friend, and a fantastic Bass player. He was currently playing with Albert Lee.
Anyway, great article here. Many here i'm sure knew him, and or at least knew his work.

RIP

Wisconsin native Will MacGregor played bass for scores of rock greats, from Keith Richards to Chuck Berry
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He had a heck of a career. He gave Louis Johnson sight reading lessons too. That was something I never heard before.The Bobby Watson and Stanley Clarke connections are impressive too. Mr. MacGregor must have had some skills. R.I.P.
 
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#3
Dr. Cheese said:
He had a heck of a career. He gave Louis Johnson sight reading lessons too. That was something I never heard before.The Bobby Watson and Stanley Clarke connections are impressive too. Mr. MacGregor must have had some skills. R.I.P.
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Will was amazing! I remember this project years ago, I got hired on to do (total mess) and had only about four weeks to produce and deliver an album. The catch was the group had tracks but no solid arrangements or structure.
Will came in and helped me put everything together, wrote it out, and gave the project the lift it was missing. As a bass player myself, I really appreciated what Will could bring to the table, and his level of musicianship. "He was also a good friend you could not see for a year and pick up right where you left off!" "Louis and Stanley were also big in my life too, and Will was always working with everyone from Punk to Funk to Rock and Blues the guy was a musician's musician". Miss that guy.
 
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#5
WOW!!!...This is the first i'm hearing of this. Will was my FIRST BASS TEACHER! He had a tremendous impact on my chosen path. I was a 12 year old (1982-83) who had just got my first Electric Bass a few months prior. I went to my local music store, Action Music in Granada Hills , CA and was assigned Will as my instructor when I inquired about lessons. ( Greg Bissonette worked at the drum counter btw). He was an awesome teacher who really saw that I had some ability and encouraged me to develop the required skills to do this "bass" thing. I still have transcriptions of lines we worked on and recall him hipping me to Jaco as THE CAT to dig. I remember these lessons like they were yesterday ....they had that much impact. I recall always being surprised by the variety of Instruments that he would play in our lessons. ( a modulus Jazz bass with emg, a 60's precision, an SD curlee, and a super cool Roland G-88). I could go on all day and may post again here if something strikes me ...
Thanks for all you brought to my life , Will....RIP!
 
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#6
#9
Oh- listening to Pat MacLaughlin and thinking of Will's bass lines
I googled to see this sad news.
I teched for Will ( w/ Pat) in '87 he was amazingly talented, funny, supportive and giving as a person and behind the bass.
He was ever so proud that he had a Louis Johnson bass set up for slapping which he used for a few songs.
I think last time I saw him was on his regulargig at the Central with Chuck E Weiss- he was a Goddam Liar!
At least we have recordings and memories...Cheers Will, Michael Kaye
 
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#10
Michael, Yeah that's how i remember him too. My other buddy who called me to give me the sad news about Will recently passed a few months ago as well. We all played together and were friends. 2020 has been really tough. Take care.
 

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