By NAN ET Contributor
News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sun. Feb. 28, 2016: Fans and friends of Jamaican-born deejay, sound system operator, club owner, music producer and organizer -Winston “Merritone” Blake – took to Facebook yesterday to mourn his passing.
Blake passed away at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew at 5:30AM. Saturday morning. He was 75. He had Blake suffered a stroke in January and was recuperating at home but was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday February 24th after complaining of not feeling well. Blake’s condition worsened and he died on Feb. 27th.
Blake, known for his broad smile, was one of the famous Blake brothers who founded Merritone Music and the Merritone sound was the first Jamaican Sound System to take the Jamaican music to cities such as London, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, New York, Hartford, Toronto, L. A, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
In Jamaica, Blake and his brothers made a huge impact on the music industry as sound system operator, club owner and organizer of the popular Merritone Amateur Talent contest that helped to launch the careers of his wife Cynthia Schloss and Beres Hammond.
He was awarded The Order of Distinction, Officer Class for his contribution to Jamaica’s entertainment industry in 1995. His wife preceded him in death in 1999.
He is survived by brothers Trevor and Monty and several children and grandchildren.
