[UPDATED] Guitarist Joey Ng Wai dies at 54 – 'phenomenal musician'

GUITARIST and producer Joey Ng Wai is being remembered as a great person and phenomenal musician.

The 54-year-old musician died on Monday after battling pneumonia in hospital for over a month.

His sister Sharon Ng Wai-Pantin confirmed this to Newsday on Tuesday.

Ng Wai was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Port of Spain General Hospital on December 29. He was sedated and intubated.

On January 5, he was conscious again and able to recognise and respond to family members. He was moved to the High Dependency Unit on January 9, but was readmitted to the ICU on January 16.

His sister told Newsday then,"The pneumonia is beating him, it’s very much there and his breathing is not good. They’re trying their best with him constantly. They had to put him back there because his sugar levels spiked,”

Ng Wai performed with many bands over the years, including Second Imij, which he co-founded (now Imij and Co), Atlantik and Frantic.

Second Imij sang classics like Jump (On D Count of 4) and Golo.

In a 2023 Trini to the Bone interview in Newsday by late writer BC Pires, Ng Wai said he got his first guitar at age 12 from his brother.

He also recalled being taught by late musician/composer Andre Tanker.

He believed his love for music came from having a musician father (George, co-founder of Second Imij) and growing up in Woodbrook.

“I love everything about the guitar. I love the tone, I love how it rips you apart,” he said.

Several musicians, producers and artistes offered condolences to his family on social media and shared memories of and tributes to him.

In a Facebook post, a former bandmate, singer Michelle Xavier, thanked him for his advice, guidance, life lessons, laughs and for believing in her.

“Thank you for the first ten years of my professional career that I spent in Imij…You were the bandleader and the band clown, a prankster and one of the best guitarists TT has ever produced.”

She is also the aunt of Ng Wai's daughter, Mia, and said she will “try to guide her on her musical journey as best as (she) can as she follows in (their) footsteps.”

She told Ng Wai to have fun starting a new band with other late band members and associates Johnny Gonzalves, Hilton “Getto Flex” Dalzell and Ricardo Drue.

Tricia Lee Kelshall, another former bandmate, posted also took to Facebook to offer condolences and express gratitude.

“Joey – goodbye. Thank you for the amazing opportunity of starting my career with the epic superband Second Imij. Brother for life through good and bad times, highs and lows, unbreakable bond despite the passage of time.”

Veteran producer Martin “Mice” Raymond told Newsday Ng Wai was a “phenomenal musician” who “had a huge impact on (TT’s) cultural landscape.

“He was a true wunderkind, catching my attention when he was just 15 years old with his mastery of some of the most technically challenging rock-guitar solos of the time.”

Raymond said he was also very in tune with modern technology and was a “true game-changer.

“Under his guidance, the band Second Imij became one of the pioneers in the use of digital technology on stage via drum machines and various sample playback devices – an approach favoured by practically every band out there now.”

He said Ng Wai was always humble, down to earth and easy to get along with.

“He was very close to my late cousin, producer Graham Wilson, who passed away in late 2023. He was a great source of comfort and support for him in his final days.”

He added that the guitarist’s bands over the years provided a career jumpstart for many, including Kees Dieffenthaller, Kelshall, Ghetto Flex, Russell Cadogan, Kevon Carter, Rochelle Chedz and more.

“He will be truly missed.”

On Facebook, singer/songwriter Gary Hector, formerly of jointpop, said TT had lost a top human, guitarist, songwriter, bandleader and phone-amp fiddler.

Explaining "phone-amp fiddler," Hector recalled seeing Ng Wai sitting using his phone during a soundcheck.

He said he felt bad to have to confront him, but was told, “My amp and tones are on this app on my phone. That’s what I’m doing.”

In 2020, he recalled, "I asked Joey to record demos of the 13 songs that became National Trash (album), making him the first and only person outside of my family to hear my debut solo album and its direction, etc. He also shared some ‘secrets’ with me, some really great-sounding pop tracks, working with some producers in Scandinavia.”

Kes the Band’s official Instagram profile posted: "We first met Joey at a charity concert in the early days and he saw something in us and truly introduced us to the world of soca.

“The time with Imij and Co were very formative years for us. Thank you, Joey, for believing in us and sharing your light with us all.”

Owner of TT Radio Network Anthony “Chinese Laundry” Chow Lin On also posted on Instagram, saying his friendship with Ng Wai was irreplaceable. So too, “...the songs we wrote, the jam sessions in Goodwood, the countless times you had my back. The memories won’t be replaced.”

Machel Montano replied, “RIP, Joey,” and others including Farmer Nappy, Rupee and Jason “Shaft” Bishop also shared condolences under the post.

Lou Lyons of Freetown Collective posted on Facebook that while he does not have many stories about Ng Wai, there is one that is difficult to forget.

He saw Ng Wai playing at Shakers Bar in 2010 with a “really nice” TAG Heuer wristwatch.

“I asked him if he wasn’t afraid to put hard scratches on such a costly watch while playing the guitar and he said, ‘Nah! I am more afraid of the watch putting scratches on my guitar!’

"We had a good laugh and talked a bit more about good watches and his parting words were: ‘If you’re worried about playing with your good watch, it’s time to buy a better guitar!’”

Lyons said he always admired Ng Wai from afar.

In a press release, Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell said he was “deeply saddened” by Ng Wai’s death.

He said the musician was “incredibly talented.

“His music touched countless hearts, and his legacy will continue to resonate through every note he played.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may his family and loved ones find strength in this difficult time…His melody lives on forever.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

GUITARIST and producer Joey Ng Wai has died, after battling pneumonia in hospital for over a month.

His sister Sharon Ng Wai-Pantin confirmed this to Newsday on February 18.

The musician, 54, died on February 17.

Ng Wai was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Port of Spain General Hospital on December 29. He was sedated and intubated.

On January 5, he was conscious again and able to recognise and respond to family members.

He was moved to the High Dependency Unit on January 9, but was readmitted to the ICU on January 16.

His sister told Newsday then,"The pneumonia is beating him, it’s very much there and his breathing is not good. They’re trying their best with him constantly. They had to put him back there because his sugar levels spiked,”

Ng Wai performed with many bands over the years, including Second Imij, which he co-founded (now Imij and Co) and Frantic.

Musicians, producers and artistes have been offering condolences to his family and sharing memories of and tributes to him on social media.