While he does not miss its brutal winters, Winston Dias has great memories of the 10 years he lived in Canada. He held a nine-to-five job but also continued a music career that started in Kingston, Jamaica 60 years ago.
Dias migrated to Toronto in 1968 and became part of the city’s fledgling reggae scene, performing at clubs such as Zambezi, Room at The Top and The Wiff.
“My fondest memories of living and recording music in Canada was spreading great reggae music. I lived in Toronto and the place was up and coming because the Canadians really loved reggae music,” he said.
Living in Toronto also enhanced his love for different types of music including what was then known as American country and western. One of the songs he heard while still living in Canada was “Let’s Keep it That Way” by Tanya Tucker. That single was made famous by Mac Davis and covered in reggae by Boris Gardiner.
At the insistence of his wife and daughter, Dias covered “Let’s Keep it That Way.” His version, also done in reggae, was recently released by Tad’s International Record.
Production on the song was done at Willie Lindo’s studio in South Florida, where Dias has called home for nearly 50 years. And at the Kingston studio of fellow singer Leroy Brown, who also lived in Canada for many years.
During his time in Canada, Dias was a visible figure in the Jamaican community. He remembers fun house parties, rowdy domino games and lots of good vibes at clubs like 813 and Club Jamaica where many top artists hung out.
Dias started his music career in the early 1960s and had a big hit single with “Cericy Tea” a ska song he still does in his live set. Since moving to the United States, he has managed two clubs, toured with two legendary groups — The Drifters and The Melodians.