Winston ‘Merritone’ Blake is dead
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Legendary sound system operator, Winston ‘Merritone’ Blake, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew, this morning. He was 75.
His friend and neighbour, Michael Hall, said Blake suffered a stroke in January and was recuperating at home. However, on Wednesday he was admitted to UHWI after complaining of not feeling well. Things took a turn for the worst on Friday and he died today at 5:30 am.
Blake was also a music producer and promoter of talent contests that helped to launch the careers of his wife Cynthia Schloss and Beres Hammond. He produced several of Schloss’ hit songs including Love Forever and Surround me With Love. She died in 1999.
Blake was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government in 1995. He is survived by brothers Trevor and Monty (Tyrone died in 2012), children and grandchildren.
Howard Campbell
