Star on the rise

By Coral Cooksley WITH a love of country music, it was a dream come true for young musician Jack Gregory from Staghorn Flat when he took part in this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival. The youngster started strumming a guitar and taking lessons at just five years old after his mum bought him one and just three years later, Jack started busking; he’s been making his mark on the regional country music scene ever since. Last year, Jack won first place in the primary school age category in two of the Australian National Busking Championships’ regional competitions held in Kilmore and Rutherglen. Winning the regionals took the young songwriter, guitarist, and singer to Cooma for the grand final busking championships where he scored third place. With his family’s support, Jack’s busking takes him all over the countryside and includes the Man from Snowy River Festival in Corryong where he competes in the fun Ozzie Bush Idol talent quest as well as performing on the street. The 12 year old, who turns 13 this month, said his biggest inspiration for playing had been his late much-loved ‘Pop’ and Corryong local legend, Greg Wilson, who enjoyed watching him perform. “Pop was a big influence on me, told me I was an awesome young legend and to keep going,” Jack said. “Pop etched his signature on my guitar before he passed away 15 months ago and each time I played on or off stage in Tamworth, I looked at his signature and kept singing, and I do the same for anywhere else I play too.” With busking dollars he had saved over the last few years to head to the famous music festival held between January 13 to 22, Jack had a crack at making it into the top 10 buskers in the McDonald’s Golden Gig talent quest for under 17-year-olds. He also performed on stage at the festival’s annual breakfast show and busked in Tamworth’s Peel Street. Thrilled to be an invited guest on stage at entertainer Pete Denahy’s breakfast show held at the West Tamworth Leagues Club, Jack had the chance to showcase his talent to an audience of more than 300 festival music lovers. The young entertainer has written two songs recently, one called ‘Big Fish’ about memories he and his grandfather fondly shared, which he released on a CD in time to take to Tamworth, and another called ‘Fishing from Heaven’ which will be released soon. While at the festival, Jack rubbed shoulders with some of the best country artists in the nation, including young gun James Johnston who claimed his first Golden Guitar award as well as picking up two gongs for New Talent of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year. “I had a photo taken with James and had been to his show, and he is an inspiration,” the rising star said. Another inspiration had been listening to country music identity outback icon Lee Kernaghan OAM, who has 40 number one hit songs over his amazing career as well as 38 Golden Guitar awards. Others had been two-time Golden Guitar winner and Tamworth local country artist Aleyce Simmonds as well as the North East’s The Surreal McCoys. “Meeting and seeing artists perform gives me more passion to keep going and I look up to these musicians,” Jack said. “Step by step, I’m making my dream come true to be a well-known country singer continuing to write my songs, and I'm chuffed in getting my name out there.” With a strong supportive country music industry, Jack found country artists came up to him while busking in Tamworth’s Peel Street for a chat, and he also had the chance to meet many festivalgoers where he signed autographs, photos and even hats. “It was fun, and I learned a lot of things up in Tamworth where I also attended the Golden Guitar awards red carpet event and had a chance to go backstage before the award presentations which was pretty amazing,” Jack said. “I was also interviewed and play a song on the local radio station while up there.” Jack loves supporting well-known musicians during their gigs and the opportunities have rolled out for him over the last 12 months. Jack joined ARIA and eight time Tamworth Golden Guitar winner Fanny Lumsden in her country halls tour at the Wymah Country Hall and Melbourne-based musician and international performer Joel Havea (who grew up in Yackandandah) during his Kergunyah and Rutherglen shows. “Musician and entertainer Pete Denahy from Yackandandah has taken me under his wing too with lots of encouragement which is a great,” Jack said. With stories behind country music, the young storyteller says he enjoys old time country music of icons like Slim Dusty and Johnny Cash, as well as a little bluegrass and folk. Well on his way to becoming a well-known country singer, the emerging young artist says he successfully balances weekly guitar lessons, guitar practice every night, busking competitions and gigs around school commitments. Jack is playing on the youth stage in Main Street at the Yackandandah Folk Festival from 11.45am until 12.15pm on Saturday March 25. You can also find him on Facebook by searching Jack Gregory - Music.

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