Merritone celebrates 21 family reunions

• Organisation to do Blues Busters' tombing in tandem with Dragonaires

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Merritone stands alone as the only sound system from the earliest days of the movement which is still active - Waterfalls in Liguanea and The Deck in New Kingston among its current regular stomping grounds.

This year the organisation, centred around the Blake musical brothers - Tyrone, Trevor, Monty and Winston - celebrates its 61st anniversary. However, as Merritone has long been at the hub of a dedicated fan base, there is another milestone.

The Merritone Family Reunion marks its 21st anniversary, from October 12-17, including the Merritone All-Inclusive Weekend at Sunset Beach, Montego Bay, St James.

Monty Blake told The Gleaner that "since Merritone turned 50 in 2000 we have filled hotels except in 2001. We believe we are a great foreign exchange earner". Previously, the weekends have been held at Grand Lido Braco and Hedonism III.

Among the weekend's events are a performance by Baggadito, a fashion show by Robyno and a presentation by the Hatfield Dancers, these in addition to Merritone's party music. "There is never a dull moment," Blake said.

The pre-reunion events calendar began in July with the Family Fun Day and Picnic in Connecticut, then an official launch of Turntable Thursdays at Waterfalls in mid-September. This Sunday, there will be First Sunday on The Deck and next Friday the Gardens of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, will host 'Remembering the Songbird - Cynthia' in honour of Cynthia Schloss.

On Sunday, October 9, Memories of Copa is at Wicky Wackie Beach in Bull Bay.

In addition to the all-inclusive weekend, the reunion events are Meet and Greet at Chaser's Café, Belmont Road, New Kingston, on Wednesday, October 12, with Turntable Thursdays at Waterfalls the following night. To close it all, Las Lik happens at The Deck on Monday, October 17.

Another angle

There is another angle to the continuity of the Family Reunion, as Blake pointed out "this is the 21st consecutive year Wray & Nephew is sponsoring us".

There is a celebratory, yet sombre, event on the Merritone calendar, as Blake said that along with Byron Lee's Dragonaires (which has already made a financial contribution) they will be doing a tombstone for the Blues Busters at Pye River Cemetery in Montego Bay. Blake said the duo, famed for their R&B songs of which Behold is a standout, "are friends of ours and we just like great talents to have somewhere good".

At the launch of the reunion, Herbie Miller, curator of the Jamaica Music Museum, placed Merritone in a stream of sound system culture which included Billy's Home Town Hi Fi, El Toro Hi Fi and Bevely's Hi Fi. These were distinct from the "heavyweights" - Prince Buster, Sir Coxson and Duke Reid.

Miller said "because of their discriminating musical taste, selectivity and rotation style, Merritone opened the way for music not necessarily considered 'soul' or 'pop' to be palatably digested by those who made up the 'Merry' family". In that vein, he said, "Merritone chanced to play music with thematic difference - a light classical piece such as Elizabeth Serenade, for example, if even at the initial sound check or arrivant stage".

In summary, Miller said "As far as sound systems go, it is primarily the Merritone experience that provided the alternative music scene for those of us diversified beyond the popular trends and hits of the moment."

And Blake points out that Merritone has broken ground or established patterns which have gone outside the norm, among them the annual Family Fun Day in Connecticut, the former Turntable Club on Red Hills Road and going to Cuba. In addition, Winston Blake has received national honours and Blake says "We have Craig Ross and Mikey Thompson we can hand over to. We feel good.

"The decency is you can carry your family. Merritone is not just music; it is a lifestyle," Blake said. "From fledgling to your final hours."