The oldest Jamaican sound system still active, Merritone Music, is in mourning following the death of Tyrone Blake, one of the four sons of founder Val Blake, at the age of 69.
Tyrone "Sporty" Blake died on Sunday 22 April, in the company of his brothers Winston and Monty, shortly after speaking to Trevor on the phone. As they were about to go to a brunch, Monty Blake told the Star, Tyrone complained of sweating and headaches. "The good part is that he died with us, Winston, myself and a few good friends," Monty Blake continued. A ruptured aneurysm may have been the cause of death.
Hospitalised in November 2011 after a motorbike accident with his brother Winston, Tyrone Blake had been diagnosed with heart problems.
The Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna paid tribute to him: "Tyrone has been taken from us suddenly, but he will live on in our collective national memory as someone who, with his brothers Winston, Monty and Trevor, kept the iconic Merritone musical machine going for decades," she said.
Merritone Music celebrated 61 years in business last year.