Merritones still strong at 60

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Winston 'Merritone' Blake recalls a heart-to-heart conversation he had with his father while he was a student at Kingston College (KC) in the 1950s. It was about what career path he would take after leaving school.

"I told him I wanted to go into the sound-system business," Blake recalled. "He said to me, 'when yuh get serious come back an' talk to mi'.

He thought I was being ridiculous."

Winston Blake senior died in 1956, three years before his second son graduated from KC. The Merritone sound system he started in his native St Thomas in 1950 is still around. It celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and his four sons (the others are Trevor, Tyrone and Monty) are still at the helm.

The milestone will be incorporated into the Blake family's annual reunion which kicked off September 26 with a service at St Mary's Anglican Church in St Andrew. It resumes today with a party at The Deck.

Blake is not surprised that the sound-system craze which started in downtown Kingston during the late 1940s, has survived. He said Merritone has established a niche that has earned them a loyal base.

"What we have is a brand and we try to maintain that brand by keeping a standard and not disappointing the fans," he explained.

relocation

For years, the Blake siblings operated from The Turntable Club along the popular Red Hills Road strip in St Andrew. They left early this decade, citing a rise in gang violence in the area.

Winston Blake also dabbled in record production, collaborating with producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry during the early 1970s. He would produce several songs with his wife, singer Cynthia Schloss, including the hit Chained To A Memory.

Schloss, who died in 1999, will again be honoured during this year's Merritone reunion.

The concert, Remembering Cynthia, takes place October 9 in The Garden at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Singers Bunny Brown, Prilly Hamilton, Althea Hewitt and guitarist Dwight Pinkney are among the featured acts for the event. All will be backed by the Fab Five band.

A Touch Of Purple, a fund-raiser for the Blakes' alma mater Kingston College, is scheduled for Curphey Place on October 8.

Merritone Reunion itinerary

Return To Roots at the VIP Lounge in Prospect, St Thomas (October 10)

Musical Tribute to Merritone featuring Stone Love and Wild Bunch sound systems at Alibi (October 12)

Meet and Greet at Acropolis (October 13)

Party at the Waterfalls (October 14)

Party at Sunset Resort (October 15-18)

Las' Lick at The Deck (October 18).