TurnTable Thursdays returns

The nostalgic Merritone TurnTable Thursdays is making its return to the weekly events calendar, but it will not be staged at the legendary club on Red Hill Road from which it got its name, instead it will now be held at Our Place, the semi-open-concept location on Oxford Road.

The start date is Thursday, April 6.

Dwight Stewart, director of Our Place, said he was “more than excited” to add the legendary Merritone TurnTable Thursdays to the entertainment offerings and provide a space where patrons of all ages can enjoy the sweet sounds of vintage music right in the heart of city Kingston, the entertainment and cultural capital of the island.

“We are always seeking ways in which to satisfy the tastes of our loyal patrons. We think this is really the icing on the cake, and look forward to a long and enjoyable collaboration with Merritone,” Stewart said.

Merritone Director Monte Blake, picking one of his favourites quotes, said, “Things of quality have no fear of time. Thursdays was one of our biggest nights of the year when music lovers, both locally and from overseas, would converge pre-weekend to soak up a buffet of indescribable music served on a platter with a variety of genres.”

According to Blake, TurnTable Nights was the place to be, and movie stars, politicians, prime ministers, top executives and celebrity entertainers could be seen rubbing shoulders with the common man in a space conducive to love, harmony and great music.

Underscoring what Monte expressed, Monique Blake, who has taken up the mantle as managing director of the 73-year-old iconic musical movement, said: “We have brought back TurnTable Thursdays as part of the rebranding of Merritone, inviting music lovers to come for an after-work Merri-Jam just to unwind, and to avoid the distressing traffic which could have them sitting in their cars for extended hours.”

Monique pointed out that the new format is in keeping with the Noise Abatement Act, insuring that patrons will have an enjoyable experience without disturbing the neighbourhood and having any encounter with the law.

The Merritone managing director also shared that besides the great music which will be played on all formats by the cadre of popular Merritone selectors — Mikey Thompson, Craig ‘Young Lion’ Ross, Glen Campbell, Richie Clarke, Marlon McPherson, Jeremy Scott and Omar Chin — TurnTable Thursdays will see acoustic performances, the spoken word, and much more. Our Place will also create drink and food specials.

Merritone had its humble beginning in Morant Bay, St Thomas, the birthplace of the Blake brothers – Trevor, Winston, Tyrone and Monte. The concept was founded by the patriarch of the family, Val Blake, who established the first sound system of its kind in 1950, which still stands today as the last sound standing from that era.

“We could easily credit my grandfather Val with the moniker ‘musical scientist’, having used his keen interest in different genres of music (Latin music, dances such as the cha chacha, waltz, and slow love songs) to make a breakthrough, which has resulted in a winning formula that is distinctively identifiable as the Merritone sound.

“My mission is not to rattle but strengthen the foundation of what my grandfather has left behind, and rebrand the management and business model of this one-of-a-kind family business,” added Monique.