Tribute - Ray McGregor, master of the music
His name’s been synonymous with the lively dance of the button accordion locally for almost 60 years, his distinctive tartan cap and rollicking renditions a colourful addition to the Arrow Miner’s Band, since soon after its inception.
Talented musician Ray McGregor passed away on July 28, aged 89, having brought a fun piece of history alive in the Wakatipu – the button accordion, not often played prior to that since the goldmining era.
Born in Balfour, rural Southland, his musician mates say Ray was extremely gifted at playing by ear. He taught himself to play the piano, the button accordion, and later the mouth organ, never learning to read music. Family say he’d just hear a song and it would come out through his fingertips.
A bulldozing contractor, he and wife Shirley moved to Queenstown in the 1960s where they had two children, Chris and Lara. Despite being through tragic times, besides family, music was his life, still practising with musician friend Liz Anderson every Thursday night and rollicking the rhythm with the Miner’s Band up until this year’s Arrowtown Autumn Festival. Ray was still an active performer right up until his death.
“He had numerous accordions or accordion bodies around the house as he knew how to fix them,” says daughter in law Debbie McGregor. “It was a dying art.”
Ray had a great love of Country Music. Shotover Country Music Club meets and gigs were a delight, and he was a member for 30 years. He and Liz performed many a local duo, runners up then winners of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival Talent Quest. The Frankton Accordion Band they formed with Arthur Mckenzie and Arthur Diack was in demand for local gigs too and Ray was active in the local keyboard club.
Local musician and long-time Miner’s Band drummer Peter Doyle says Ray played regularly with other musicians prior to the Miner’s Band being formed in 1985. Ray joined a few years later. “It was a natural progression.”
“He had specialty tunes we got him to play like ‘The Bluebell Polka’. We’d play at the Wild Food Festival on the West Coast, Ranfurly, Naseby. Any excuse to play music and Ray and the rest of us were there,” grins Peter.
Miner’s Band original Joe Guise says he will feel lost playing without Ray, who loved Country and old-time music. “He was a real leader when we were playing. He knew all of the tunes. I always looked up to him,” says Joe. Many of the originals have passed on but the band on the back of its old truck was always in popular demand for events around the region, from conference entertainment to opening the Motatapu Track and surprise appearances.
“He was quite a hoot of a man, and that button accordion was only used in the goldmining era, quite tricky to play,” says Peter.
Ray’s contracting skills were in demand too. He was quickly snapped up to work for Queenstown contactor Darrell McGregor soon after arriving in Queenstown. Roading construction was underway on the likes of the Devil’s Staircase and Glenorchy Road.
Ray was the Chieftain of the Queenstown Scottish Society, succeeding local bagpiping legend Hec Boyd. He also played social indoor bowls and belonged to the Wakatipu Gun Club.
