Diamonds,Merritone's best friend

Sound system celebrates 60 years, 20 years of reunions

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

There is a blend of metals and a celebration of mettle as Merritone marks two anniversaries this year. Merritone Disco, founded by Val Blake in St Thomas, now run by his quartet of 'Merri' sons - Trevor, Winston, Tyrone and Monte - marks its Diamond Jubilee of 60 years. And as the sparkling hardness of diamond ends on October 12, the rich sheen of platinum begins on October 13 for the 20th anniversary of Merritone's Reunion and Homecoming.

Both celebrations were announced with an air of confident jubilation at The Deck, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, last Sunday evening to a bunch of Merri people, where Merritone was celebrated for not only tenacity but also class. As James Moss-Solomon, speaking on behalf of bands such as 50/50 and Fab Five, which have worked with Merritone, put it, "the Blake family has never let us down in terms of doing things that we find critical or against the ideals of Jamaica, land we love. The Blake family has never given us an opportunity to feel ashamed."

jubilee programme

The Diamond Jubilee programme begins on September 26 with a church service at the St Mary's Anglican Church. On October 8 'Merritone/Jamaica Defence Force Touch of Class' is at Curphey Place, followed by 'Merritone Remembering Cynthia Schloss' at The Jamaica Pegasus Gardens on October 9. 'Merritone Return to Roots' is at Prospect, St Thomas, on October 10 and the final event in the series, 'Tribute to Merritone', with Wee Pow of Stone Love and Gladdy of Wild Bunch and spin-off winner Marsha, is at Baron's Plaza on October 12.

After a 'Merritone Meet and Greet' at the Acropolis on October 13, the Platinum Reunion and Homecoming moves to Waterfalls on October 14. Then the celebrations move to the north coast from October 15-17 for the 'Merritone All-Inclusive Weekend', at Sunset Beach Resort, before coming back to the capital for 'Las Lik' at The Deck on National Heroes Day, October 18.

Guest speaker Robert Pickersgill, as well as Monte Blake, covered much of the chronology of Merritone at the launch, hosted by Michael Hall, noting high points and putting the disco and its development in historical context. But it was Cindy Breakspeare-Bent who spoke to the Turntable experience ("we would tumble out of there at 3, 4 o'clock, knowing we had to work later") and connected Merritone's approach with those who have come after. "I would like to congratulate Merritone for always putting the best of Jamaica forward," she said. "Let us always ensure that we follow the Merritone example," she later added, saying young persons involved in music would do well to follow that lead as well.

the big three

Pickersgill noted that the RJR communications group was also celebrating 60 years and said that it was the kind of national institution with which Merritone could be appropriately compared. "The family has established that achievement and accomplishment will be a journey, not a destination," Pickersgill said. Naming sound systems and operators that existed before Merritone, Roy White, Jack Taylor, Tom the Great Sebastian and Nick the Champ among them, then the 'Big Three' which came after - Coxsone, Edwards and Reid - Pickersgill said "Merritone has outlasted all those operators which existed before and many who came after."

Added to that quality of perseverance is the ability to select music. "Unseasoned meat will fill your belly, but it will never taste good," Pickersgill said. "The Blake family has unstintingly given of themselves to us by giving us soothing and entertaining music."

Julian Walker of Supreme Ventures, Sandy Saunders of Power 106FM, Tomlin Ellis of KOOL FM, Judith Douglas of Wray and Nephew and Sunset Resort's Charmaine Deane gave their organisations' full support of the Merritone celebrations, Monte Blake running through the disco's history, decade by decade.