October 25 is World Merri Music Day in honour of Merritone sound system

Any organisation or entity that has achieved a milestone of 72 years deserves to have its own “day in the sun”.

This is the belief of Monique Blake, daughter of Monte Blake and managing director of the historical movement. Monique is taking Merritone Music to a different level to ensure the preservation of and to honour an innovative sound system, and a music concept which had its genesis post World War II in Jamaica.

Monique is credited with idea of a World Merri Music Day as she sent in a nomination to National Calendar Day, an international body that receives thousands of nominations from around the world and selects the most worthy subjects to be celebrated on its annual calendar of activities. Merritone met all the criteria for selection in flying colours and from now on Tuesday, October 25 will be designated as a national day around the world.

“October 25 also has a special place in my heart, as it is the birth date of my beloved grandfather, Val Blake, the founder of the Merritone sound system, which hails from Morant Bay, St Thomas. I just could not let this opportunity pass to continue to highlight the Merritone legacy and the hard work of my ancestors, as well as to take another opportunity to showcase sound systems as a unique Jamaican musical innovation,” Monique said.

She shared that her grandfather loved Latin music and dances, such as the cha cha cha, waltz and slow love songs, which gave this sound system its distinctly identifiable music formula.

Val passed away in 1956, leaving behind his four sons, Trevor, Winston, Tyrone and Monte. His two oldest sons, Trevor and Winston took charge of the sound system after his death. Trevor would eventually migrate to the US leaving Winston and his two younger brothers to continue Merritone. The Blake brothers stood out as the only sound that would feature a family of DJs. While all brothers played, Winston and Monte were the two most recognised selectors. Winston was instrumental in making the Merritone sound a Jamaican national treasure and a global phenomenon.

Looking Back

Winston Blake was born on November 19, 1940 to Ruthlyn and Winston St. Valentine ‘Val’ Blake. Ruthlyn died shortly after the birth of Monte, the youngest Merritone brother and Val was left to care for his four sons. As a Public Works accountant and a part-time Philips electronics salesman, he searched for additional ways to support his family.

Trevor and Winston attended school in Kingston. One day after school, while waiting at a bus stop, they heard music pumping from Mr Chin’s Sky Rocket Sound System. They came home and urged their father to start a sound system as a means to generate extra income. Val resisted initially because sound systems were not considered socially acceptable for the middle class. Eventually, he gave in and Merritone Music was born.

The sound system went on to break down the stigma of sound systems and brought music to both working and middle-class people, national and international politicians, Jamaican prime ministers, world-renowned musicians, and music lovers from around the world.

Iconic Influence

Merritone Music is credited for directly influencing the rise of ska, rock steady, reggae and the present-day dancehall music culture. Merritone offers a variety of Jamaican mento, calypso, American R&B and country during a session or a party.

Many musicians and producers sought out Merritone Music to play their records, such as Bob Marley and producers Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Winston ‘Niney’ Holness, and Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, to name a few. Often, Merritone would play songs not found on the radio. In fact, they were famous for making B-side of records instant hits. This was one of the main reasons local artistes flocked to Merritone Music performances. If they could get their song played at a Merritone session, it was going to be a hit.

Merritone Music sought to showcase Jamaican talent and started the Merritone VIP Talent Exposure which discovered some of Jamaica’s most prominent singers including Cynthia Schloss, Beresford Hammond, The Tamlins, Jacob Miller, Ruddy Thomas, as well as the Mighty Diamonds.

Merritone Music began playing in New York in the late ‘60s, but it was not until the ‘70s that international tours became a mainstay. They played in US cities like Miami, Ft Lauderdale, New York, as well as Toronto and London where Merritone fans moved to during the ‘Great Migration’. It was the first Jamaica-based sound system to play internationally.

In 1972, Winston opened the Turntable Club on Red Hills Road in St Andrew and that space became the home of Merritone Music for the next 29 years. It was the site of the first live recording session at a night club in Jamaica featuring Dennis Brown. Entertainers like Marvin Gaye, Keith Richards, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff frequented the club. Turntable Club is Jamaica’s longes- running nightclub. In honour of its contribution to Jamaica’s musical culture, Turntable Club was designated a National Heritage site in 2018 by the Government of Jamaica.

Awards & Commendations

Throughout the decades, Merritone has received many awards and commendations. Among them are the Order of Distinction, presented to the late Winston Blake in honour of his contributions to Jamaican music; the Pioneer Sound Award from International Reggae Day; the JARIA posthumous honour to Winston Blake; the renaming of Bay Mount (the original Merritone Music home site) to Blake Hill by the St. Thomas Municipal Council; the Reggae Canada Icons Award and the United States House of Representatives 11th Congressional district honour to Winston Blake for his contribution to Brooklyn, NY and its citizens.

“Wherever you are in the world [tomorrow] Tuesday, October 25 take out your phones, lap tops and other devices and play music to your heart’s content in honour of Merritone – the oldest and the last sound standing on the planet,” urged Monique.