Radio Jamaica Celebrating 70 Years

Page 32 Sunday July 4, 2021 W inston Williams is one of the few surviving pioneers of Jamaican radio. Williams first took his seat at the microphone 57 years ago and has been constantly on air in Jamaica for 53 years. In 1963, Williams took his quick tongue; a melodious, sweet baritone; and lightning intellect to RJR. In swift order, his speed, accuracy, and perfect diction made him an audience favourite. Trained by the iconic theatre and radio producer Wycliffe Bennett, Williams excelled. In 1966, that success led Williams elsewhere. Adrian Robinson, one of his mentors, decided to give up the job of live emcee with top group Carlos Malcolm and the Afro-Caribbean Rhythms, and Williams was offered the job. He spent the next year with Carlos Malcolm, cementing his reputation for excellence throughout the Caribbean, eventually landing the job of radio host on Z.N.S. FM’s popular radio show, Music To Remember , in the Bahamas. Concurrently, Williams emceed shows at the world famous “Cat and Fiddle Club”, which featured many of the top names in global music, including Stevie Wonder. Then in 1967, Williams returned to Jamaica to host JBC’s afternoon show as “the whip with the solid kick” going head-to-head with RJR’s El Numero Uno, Don Topping. While at JBC, he also read radio and television news. After a decade at JBC, Williams returned to RJR, taking over the station’s afternoon radio slot. The Live Till Five show was fun and interactive, reflecting his personality. Williams spent the next decade and a half at Lyndhurst Road, hosting several shows, including Saturday morning’s Rock House , and establishing himself as the voice of the 5 p.m. news on RJR. In 1992, Williams returned to JBC, where he remained until 1997 when JBC was acquired by RJR. He then had a stint at Hot 102FM before moving on to Power 106FM in 2003. With the 2016 merger of RJR Communications Group and the Gleaner Company Ltd., Williams once again found himself part of the RJR family. Over the years, Williams has continued his work in music, recording songs for Coxsone Dodd, Bunny Lee, and the Jackpot labels. In 2017, Williams’ fame was revisited in a tribute song, “ Searching for the Whip ” by Junia Walker. The man with a rhyme for every time and every situation has won many awards, including the “El Suzie Red Stripe Award” in 1972 as the best DJ on air. His immense body of work, commitment, and longevity in the broadcasting industry has made him the embodiment of Jamaican musical and media culture. He has truly been there and done that! Been There, Done That! Winston ‘The Whip’ Williams