Christopher McGregor (24 December 1936 – 26 May 1990) was a South African jazz pianist, bandleader and composer born in Somerset West, South Africa.
Early influences
McGregor grew up in the then Transkei (now part of the Eastern Cape Province), where his father was headmaster at a Church of Scotland mission institution called Blythswood. Here McGregor was exposed to the music of the local amaXhosa people. The young trumpet player Mongezi Feza joined the group soon after. He also made a contribution to Nick Drake's Bryter Layter album by performing a piano solo on the track "Poor Boy".
Death
McGregor died of lung cancer in May 1990, at the age of 53.