Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band leader Barry Gray's amazing life

The St Clair, NSW, resident - who is the Pipe Major of the Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band, decided to learn the instrument 48 years ago.

He made the decision after watching the Fairfield Police Citizens Boys Club pipe band perform at a Lansvale Public School fete.

"It was quite an ancient hypnotic sound. I had seen pipe bands on TV before too and it's quite an impressive visual sight," he said.

He took a flyer from the band after their performance, joined and six months later he could play.

After a while he started to build up a reputation and one day, he received a phone call from Jimmy Barnes.

"I hung up on him the first two times, because I thought it was a prank, but the third time he said 'don't hang up, it's really Jimmy Barnes' and I ended up playing on his first (solo) album."

He was soon introduced to John Farnham and has been a regular member of the Voice's touring party for 26 years.

He has also performed and toured with a number of other huge names from the industry, including Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams and Andre Riu.

He said while there was a strong feeling of anticipation and excitement before going on stage to perform in front of so many people, he didn't experience nerves or anxiety.

"The bagpipes are one of those instruments, you have to be a bit of an extrovert to play them," he said.

"I've been playing since the age of 11, so nothing phases me."

Barry said while he only met Riu briefly, he had formed good friendships with other musicians he had toured with and had Barnes and Farnham's numbers stored in his contacts.

"Paul's (McCartney) a great guy. . Just like John Farnham, what you see on TV is what they are like."

"They are both very nice, but are also perfectionists. If something isn't right, they will cut it."

"They worry more about the punter being happy than their own performance."

Barry has worked full time in the music industry for almost two decades and in addition to touring, he also performs at functions and special events and teaches.

He aims to teach students to play within six months by taking a simplified approach of letting them focus on one task at a time and not overburdening them.

He started leading the Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band around 11 years ago and in that time, the group has grown from a just three members to 70, most of whom he has taught.

The band performed with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo when it performed in Sydney in October and will perform a special Celtic Affair concert at Castle Hill's Pioneer Theatre on March 7 and 8.

Barry said the performance would include a mixture of pipe band standards such as Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace along with popular songs such as Hey Jude and You Raise Me Up.

For more information about the concert or if you are interested in lessons, call 0412-602-983, email pipers01@optusnet.com.au or click here.