By Nelson A. King
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the
United States, Audrey Marks
has lauded the contribution of
Patricia Chin and her late husband
Vincent “Randy” Chin in
both the development of Jamaica’s
reggae music genre and its
promotion through their business,
Randy’s Record Mart and
VP Records, according to CaribbeanNationalWeekly
(CNW).
“Since its emergence, reggae
music has come to be known
as the ‘heartbeat of the world,’”
CNW quoted Amb. Marks as
saying at a recent reception to
celebrate the release of Chin’s
memoir, “Miss Pat: My Musical
Journey,” hosted by the Manhattan
based Carib News.
“However, any credible study
of this important genre, which
has remained a significant feature
of Jamaica’s cultural heritage,
will reveal Mrs. Chin’s
remarkable contribution to its
growth in Jamaica and across
the globe,” added the envoy,
stating that, from their humble
beginnings, as Randy’s Record
Mart in 1958 — founded by Chin
and her husband, “the Chins
were instrumental in introducing
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and giving prominence to
many new reggae stars.
“Their relocation to the
United States in the 1970s,
where they established a reggae
empire known as VP Records,
constituted a groundbreaking
move, given their singular role
in introducing several artistes
to the international scene and
building a new wave of reggae
legends, including Beenie Man,
Bounty Killer, Lady Saw and
Sean Paul,” Marks continued.
“I laud Ms. Pat, as she is
affectionately called, for her
philanthropy and unwavering
commitment to the continued
growth and development of reggae
music, evidenced by the
establishment of the Vincent
and Pat Chin Foundation, which
supports music education in the
Jamaican Diaspora and the Caribbean,
and seeks to preserve
the history of reggae and Caribbean
music,” she said.
The proceeds from the
book will go towards supporting
music education, as well as
the Alpha Institute in Jamaica,
“to enhance the facilities and
upgrading the school’s musical
technology equipment,” CNW
said.“I am always inspired by
the remarkable contribution
of members of the Jamaican
Diaspora to the economic,
social, cultural and political
landscape of the United States,”
CNW quoted Marks as saying.
“Ms. Pat’s life stands out as an
immigrant success story, blazing
a trail of excellence in entrepreneurship
which has inspired
many other Jamaicans to pursue
similar dreams in their adopted
homeland.
“Ms. Pat is, without doubt,
a cultural icon, whose life is
one of fusion with reggae music
for more than six decades,”
she added. “Whether Ms. Pat
chose music or music chose
her, Jamaica and, indeed, the
world is a better place as a result
of her courage and fortitude
in overcoming the odds and
Patricia Chin, co-founder of VP Records at the 2nd Annual
Spirit of the Caribbean Festival in 2019, on the front lawn
of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, Jamaica, Queens.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
making her mark in the music
industry.
“I, therefore, join Jamaicans
at home and in the Diaspora in
celebrating the life of a legend,”
Marks continued.
Chin told Caribbean Life on
Wednesday that she felt “blessed
and happy to believe and
embrace my culture for so many
years.
“I live in the Sates for over
40 years, but my heart is always
back home in Jamaica,” she said
in a telephone interview from
Montego Bay, Jamaica, before
heading back to New York on
Thursday.
“I love my community, my
friends and my culture so much,
and I will not trade them for any
other culture,” Chin added. “I’m
a true Jamaican, and I love my
culture.
“I am happy to be able to
spread our Jamaican music and
culture to the world,” he continued.
“Thanks for all the artists
and the reggae fans who have
made VP (Records) possible.”
VP Records’ Patricia Chin: An
immigrant success story
561 Utica Ave, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11203
• High Earning Potential
• Good Communication Skills
• Marketing/Sales experience an asset
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Mark 929 - 384 - 4315
mark.b@sundancesadc.com
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