Merritones fest hails 52 yrs of brokered radio in NYC
Reportedly a virtual reunion
of radio personalities left a few
crying and even sobbing with
nostalgic reunions recently
when the 21st annual Merritone
Family Fun Festival stopped
into Long Island’s Hecksher
Park to honor pioneers and veterans
of New York radio.
A reliable source said Florida
resident Clinton Lindsay cried
after greeting his fellow radio
associate, Francine Chin.
Now a southern transplant
to the Sunshine state, Lindsay
first earned props as the
pioneer of the New York Reggae
Music Awards, which later
was renamed for his daughter
Tamika.
He later tested the airways
charting music and hosting his
own brokered show at WNWKFM
.H
is emotional response to
seeing like-minded colleagues
was perhaps a testament to the
shared respect for individuals
dedicated to the craft of spinning
discs that laud the island of
Jamaica but most likely the fact
trailblazers who delighted in
spreading joy to a niche market
demography and those able to
accept the bouquets now handed
to them in bunches.
Present and accounted for
were pioneers Gil Bailey, Earl
“Rootsman” Chin, Jeff Barnes,
Ken Williams and acclaimed
veterans Chin, Clive Williams
and others who traveled from
Florida and all parts of the tristate
area to be included in the
inaugural Jamaica Radio Village
where tokens of acknowledgement
and appreciation were presented.
They received lucite microphones.
In addition, some received
congressional citations.
All seemed grateful.
Both Bailey and Earl Chin
share memories of their trailblazing
time spent at WHBI-FM
almost four decades ago.
Regarded as pioneers of Caribbean
radio in New York City,
they maintain unrivaled status
for paving a path to prominence
and cultural appreciation of
Jamaica’s heritage holding down
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‘graveyard’ shifts at WHBI.
Although the Rootsman
transitioned to host “Rockers
TV,” Bailey remained a brokered
lion with his lioness Pat who cohosted
entertaining showcases
at WPAT-AM.
Barnes whose entre to NY
radio established a Caribbean
news voice on Black-music programmed
WWRL — the 1600
AM station introduced him
to New York radio audiences
and also helped in garnering a
much broader listening audience
by the time he moved to
WLIB-AM and later ventured to
brokered radio after exiting the
high-powered Manhattan flagship
outlet.
“I am honored to be remembered
and awarded,” Francine
Chin said after accepting her
personal trophy.
Popular as one of the hosts
of “Caribbean Blend” aired on
WNWK-FM she soared as only
one of a few women to share the
Clinton Lindsay and Francine Chin. Francine Chin
brokered playlists spun nightly
at the then emerging Caribbean
oriented outlet. Prior to
joining a team of deejays eager
to integrate reggae and soca
music into mainstream radio,
Chin said she was mentored by
a stewardship helmed by Williams.
Williams was first mentored
by Hal Jackson, a veteran of
radio who recruited the Jamaican
to join a roster of Caribbean
newcomers that included
— Al Gee, Holly Thomas, Karl
Anthony, Claude Tait and others
at the Percy Sutton familyowned
Inner City Broadcasting
Corporation where a dawn to
dusk schedule accommodated
Caribbean news and music.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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