- CONTRIBUTED
Jack Scorpio, operator of Black Scorpio sound system.

Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

KING ADDIES, Jammys, Black Scorpio, Metro Media, Stone Love, Kilamanjaro, Travelers, Merritone Disco, Peter Phillips Disco Adonai, Exodus, Black Cat, Bass Odyssey and Sparkles Disco, are just a few of the sound systems which have made indelible contributions in shaping Jamaican music.

It was from sound systems such as these that the art of clashing, the rise of clash tapes and specials, and the trend of artistes being aligned to sounds has evolved

However, despite many of these sounds still being in existence, their operations have been scaled down considerably. Some point to changing times, while others finger corporate sponsors who have lost confidence in them and have therefore not been offering much support as the reason for the decline.

Monty Blake, one of the Blake brothers who run Merritone Disco, said although times have changed there is still a following that yearns for the good old tunes, but sponsors are unwilling to back them.

A LOT HAS CHANGED

"This year is 56 years that we have been around and certainly it's not like in the 60s and 70s when we were way up there, because a lot has changed. But for the kind of entertainment that we offer, we still have a very strong appeal, local and foreign. The musical sphere has changed in terms of what the music has to offer; it's a different scene today where younger people lean more towards the dancehall, but where we dominate is where people dance together as a unit. A good example is like Waterfalls on a Thursday night; the tradition is still there and what has happened is that a lot of people who come to Meritone over the years, keep coming back," Blake said.

He added that "what we do have is an ageing fan base, but the great thing is that we keep reinventing ourselves and what is really great is that it's not unusual to see people in their teenage years coming out to hear us play. But I think we do get discriminated (against) by the brands who say we are not really appealing to the young folks, but if you look at the adds on TV they are playing songs from the '60s like I'll Take You There.

STILL ROCKING

Maurice 'Black Scorpio' Johnson also shared similar sentiments, as he said contrary to popular belief longstanding sounds "can pull an even bigger crowd than a Bounty Killer show if we get the right kind of backing".

"Young people are there, because dem waan fi get the knowledge and experience from in the '80s, but our core audience is over 40. But, people still turn out, because all wah day Horseman keep a show called '10 Giants of the '80s' and di people were so hungry for something like that and we played, Stereograph and a sound name Rockaway. The venues were Mas Camp, Ochi and Mandeville and artistes like Peter Metro, Burru Banton, Josey Wales, Echo Minott, Flourgon and dem type a people were there and it was a huge success; all a dem show deh sold out. All like dem big company like D& G, if dem can come gi wi some backing an sponsor den wi can tek ova again, cause back inna di days a we use to mek dem company deh big and sell nuff liquor," Scorpio lamented.

LEGENDS

He also made sure to remind that "people want to see us; we are legends in this. A we mek Bounty Killa and Beenie Man, but deejays in our time more experienced roun mic. But not to say the deejays nowadays nuh good. An think bout it, cause like Buju and dem man deh use to come roun inna di '80s to, suh dem feel di vibe, but wi nah tek weh nothing from dem cause a fi dem time. But di world need fi know weh dancehall a come from".

Blake said "even with the issue of burning records, it doesn't take anything for them to start up a little collection and get work, because they are even going to charge less, but no way we going to compromise what we believe in to get crowd through the door. They say things of quality have no fear of time".

As for Maurice Johnson and his Black Scorpio sound, he will continue to hold true to what he believes is right.

"My sound deh bout from bout 1970 and I think wi still have a big market. After Tubbys dem a we tek it up. I play out same way, I play a Europe an all dem place deh, any weh di people want good music I will be there."