Tributes pour in for Walton Crooks
MINISTER OF Tourism the Hon Edmund Bartlett has expressed sadness at the passing of Montego Bay entertainment entrepreneur Walton ‘Walt’ Crooks, who died suddenly over the weekend.
Minister Bartlett remembers Crooks for his bold undertaking in the establishment of Disco Inferno in Rose Hall.
“Walt Crooks stood out as a giant in the entertainment industry, going beyond the ordinary as he engaged top-class international singers to perform at Disco Inferno,” said Minister Bartlett.
“Walt was very passionate about his venture, and this led him to successfully bring the internationally recognised Hal Jackson’s Talented Teens Pageant to Montego Bay, giving many young Jamaicans the opportunity to showcase their talents on stage and earning recognition,” Minister Bartlett added.
Although Disco Inferno folded, Walt Crooks maintained his devotion to entertainment and tourism as a director of Summerfest Productions, working behind the scenes in the staging of the annual Sumfest shows in Montego Bay.
In his tribute, Minister Bartlett expressed the view that Walt Crooks was truly ahead of his time and regretted that he was not able to fulfil the dream he had in expanding Disco Inferno into a world-class entertainment complex.
Expressing condolences to Crooks’ family, Minister Bartlett said the tourism industry and in particular, the entertainment sector mourn the loss of a true pioneer who was totally committed to the industry.
NATE ROBB – ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
‘Walt’, ‘Crooksie’, ‘Congo’, and ‘Inferno’ were his aliases. The latter was most important as it was short for a very successful Disco Inferno, which he ran as a nightclub in the 1970 and ’80s.
Walt was a celebrated pioneer of the modern entertainment scene. Epiphany in Kingston and Inferno in MoBay were the two hotspots of the island. As the Disco Inferno theme song said, “Burn, baby burn!” and it sure did!
Inferno also had big live shows and hosted several foreign artists. No wonder when Mickey Morris founded Reggae Sumfest in 93, Walt was a signatory to the company documents.
‘Crooksie’, or ‘Congo’, as some knew him, was a stalwart and a trendsetter who refused compromise, always insisting on very high standards.
May his soul rest in peace. Condolences to his immediate and wider family and friends.
Respect!
LLOYD B SMITH – PUBLISHER
We were to meet yesterday (last Friday) at my office to discuss business and his new project, only to hear about his untimely passing. Walt Crooks was a legend in his time. His death and that of Sydney Reid have left a tremendous void in Montego Bay’s entertainment scene. I am devastated.
SINGER – MACKIE CONSCIOUS
Walt Crooks is a man I will never forget, and Disco Inferno a place I will never forget.
He was a proud Montegonian; a super strong man. He bounced back every time, and he never gave up. He was one of my great inspirations. He was one of my greatest fans who believed in me as an entertainer and only gave encouraging words.