Hail, ‘The Conscious One’
The community of broadcast journalists and radio personalities continue an outpouring of respect and condolence at the passing of veteran Winston Williams.
Williams, whose precise diction was a staple on Jamaican radio for more than 50 years, died on July 9 at Kingston Public Hospital. He was 83.
Known as “The Whip” and “The Conscious One in Kingston”, Williams went into broadcasting in the early 1960s, shortly after leaving Kingston College. He had extended runs at Radio Jamaica (RJR) and the State-owned Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), as well as stints at Hot 102 and Power 106 late in his career.
During the 1970s, Williams was among a cadre of disc jockeys who ensured roots-reggae had a presence on Jamaican radio.
Others were Errol “ET” Thompson, Winston Barnes, Jeff “Free I” Dixon, and Michael “Mikey Dread” Campbell.
Barnes, who lives in South Florida where he works with WAVS 1170 AM, said Williams “was one of the most talented, multi-faceted, humble, and respected broadcasters of our generation”.
He told the Jamaica Observer that, “I benefited tremendously from his unique talent, including his diction, pronunciation, news presenting capabilities, and his ability to interact with listeners, especially during outside broadcasts.”
Richard “Richie B” Burgess of Bridge 99 FM, also pointed to Williams’ influence on him.
“Truth be told, I started listening to Winnie from I was a student at Titchfield High School. Back then I found his incredible rhyming skills to be extremely captivating. This technique was so profound that when I eventually became a broadcaster, someone even suggested that I should make an effort to leave rhyming to Winston, because that was his thing,” he said. “It is fair to say, during our years at RJR, he took me under his wings and taught me a whole lot about the intricacies of the industry, for which I’m eternally grateful.”
Williams had strong ties to the music industry and was close friends with producers Clement Dodd and Bunny Lee. He also formed lasting bonds with artistes such as Hopeton Lindo.
“Winston was a good friend of mine for over 40 years and we still kept in touch. He usually calls me ‘a ton of hope’ and adds ‘you have nuff of it and anything negative we will have none of it’,” Lindo recalled. “I visited him at his home recently on my last visit to Jamaica and he was in good spirits as usual. He was a true professional who is emulated and loved by many. Truly, ‘The Conscious One in Kingston’.”
Winston Williams, who grew up in Rum Lane, Central Kingston, is survived by children, three sisters and a brother.
