Many Jamaican media pundits consider the 1970s as the country’s golden age of radio. Listeners tuned in to the private-owned Radio Jamaica (RJR) or state-run Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) to hear Disc Jockeys like Neville Willoughby, Don Topping, Marie Garth, Errol “ET” Thompson and Winston “The Whip” Williams.
The latter died in Kingston on June 9. He was recently admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital where died at age 83.
Williams, known for his pristine diction and witty phrases, worked at RJR and JBC before closing his career at smaller stations like Hot 102 and Power 106. WAVS 1107 AM host and veteran broadcaster, Winston Barnes, his junior colleague at RJR and JBC, remembers a singular talent.
“Winston brought Radio DJ-ing to another level in the late ‘60s when Jeff Dixon, later Free I, relocated to Milwaukee…I think he was coming home from The Bahamas after working as MC for a Jamaican band, could have been Carlos Malcolm’s aggregation. He loved words, being the devoted Scrabble player he was, so he’d make up rhyming phrases other on-air personalities would emulate and even copied, down to Winston’s tone and intonation,” said Barnes. “It was difficult to not be influenced by him, especially after you had developed a friendship with him. His hallmark was articulate, clear speech, whether as a radio DJ or television news presenter.”
Richard “Richie B” Burgess, one of Jamaica’s top DJs for the past 30 years, rates Williams as one of his biggest influences. They worked together at RJR during the 1980s when Burgess got into broadcasting.
“Firstly, I wish to express my deepest condolences to family, friends and colleagues on the passing of Winston Williams aka The Whip/Winnie.
In my opinion, he was one of the most talented, multifaceted, humble and respected broadcasters of our generation. 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,” said Burgess.
Jamaica’s entertainment minister, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, hailed Williams.
“I will always remember that engaging baritone voice of ‘the Whip’ and the great music he played on radio,” she tweeted.
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