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April 2015

Clayton Young - Florida - Member

 

The man with the velvet voice, Clayton joined the VRCA membership in 2012.  One of those collectors who has preferred to be under the radar, his motto being “walk softly and carry a big stick”. Be aware however that he is armed to the teeth, his weapon of choice being vinyl.  With his calm demeanor and willingness to participate, he is most definitely an asset to our organization. Currently President of the Kiwanis Club of greater Broward County Sunrise Chapter, Clayton is very passionate not only about the music also about giving back to those less fortunate in society and has been actively engaged in Christmas in July fundraisers which help homeless children in Florida.

His love for music was nurtured in Jamaica with influence from his father who was a lover of Jazz. Clayton was a DJ with the Ovation Disco before migrating to New York in 1975. Regrettably he left his records and had to start afresh in New York where he made a connection with Michael Barnett who in Clayton’s words “became his key mentor and exposed him to a new world of collecting”. Another co-host on collectorskornernow.com network Vintage Vinyl show Clayton always treats his audience to an entertaining feast of various musical genres. 

Norman “ Muggy” Lake - Florida

 

An avid supporter of VRCA events for many years, Norman “ Muggy” Lake volunteered to become a member in 2014. His long-standing love for music dates back to the 1960’s. He along with Ira Clayton Farquharson, Augustus Grant, Everard Martin “Q” and Steve “Bunny” Knight were amongst the original members of the Plus X Disco, which was very popular in Jamaica in the 1970’s-80. A lover of soul music he does not have one favorite song, as there are in his words “ too many of them”. He does admit however to being a great fan of Walter Jackson.    

Migrating to Florida “Muggy” was quite active as a DJ on the entertainment circuit in the 1980’s and could be heard spinning his discs at various nightclubs, two of which were Classic and Carib 420. Today he still entertains at special events in Fort Lauderdale, always with a smile and an easygoing demeanor.

Wesley Bonnitto Jr.- Florida

 

Recruited by VRCA to become a member in 2014, this collector represents the future of our organization. His exuberant personality is refreshing and despite his youthfulness, he plays strictly vinyl.  A music enthusiast who is always eager to learn from the elders with whom he associates, his love of music is hardly surprising. Coming from a family with strong music attributes he grew up listening to his father Wesley Snr. a saxophone player known as Bunny Bonitto. He is also the nephew of the classical pianist Frankie Bonitto a musician from  the big band era who had his own orchestra, and performed with people like Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Tommy McCook, and visiting American artists of high acclaim.  

When listening to Wesley Jr. present his collection one gets the distinct impression that there is deep thought put into preparing his selections. This signifies to us that he is on the right track and we can look forward to years of good entertainment from him. 

Ron “Schoolboy “Wilson “ - Jamaica

 

Ron boasts a real solid background in our fraternity having been in the 1950’s a young selector on the sound system of the musical legend Duke Reid “The Trojan”.  All this while he was attending Kingston Technical High School and still wearing short pants. Back then he was playing 78’s and was somewhat of a selector prodigy, given the status of the sound system that he played and his youth.

He is a retired Captain of the Jamaica Defence Force and currently Chairman of the Benevolent Committee of The Executive Council of the Jamaica Legion with responsibility for the welfare of Veterans and Spouses of the two world wars to include ex-service members of The Jamaica Defence Force. He also serves as Chairman of the Maj. Gen. Harty Branch of the legion and is a Freemason.

Very passionate about the music, currently Ron continues to collect and to play his vast collection. Keeping in touch with his longtime friend Vernon Edwards a very senior collector in our fraternity, Ron is in good stead to keep abreast on most if not all the current discoveries on the vinyl record-collecting scene. Ron became a member of VRCA in 2010

Gustav “ Gussie” Waldron - New York

An unassuming personality Gussie became a member of the VRCA team in 2010 and is a very reliable member of the New York chapter.  

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