By Tangerine Clarke
Patricia Chin, co-founder of
VP Records, was her usual self
on Saturday, Aug. 3 — hardworking
and involved in all
aspect of the successful brand,
that according to her, could
be considered 60 years since
she was the driving force from
the age of 18, when her journey
began in her homeland of
Kingston, Jamaica.
Decked out in summer
colors, Ms. Pat, as she is fondly
called, was hands-on, serving
Jamaican food outside the VP
Records booth, at the 2ndAnnual
Spirit of the Caribbean festival,
sponsored by the Jamaica
Center For Arts & Learning
and VP Records.
The red tent, that boldly
showcased the VP Records
trademark, covered scores of
printed reading matter, promoting
the label’s upcoming
events for its 40thAnniversary.
Booklets chronicling, the
label’s decades old success, and
Miss. Pats Reggae Music journey,
showcased the passion and
commitment the VP Records
brings to the community.
Caribbean Life caught up
with the very busy Miss. Pat,
who graciously agreed to share
her fervor for music and duty
of promoting artistes, many
who, have helped to make VP
Records a phenomenal housewhole
name across the world.
“If you think about it, VP
Records would be celebrating
60 years, because I came here
(US) in 1977, and started selling
the same Jamaican music,
and here I am 40 years after,
developing reggae artistes, and
making good music, and giving
back to my community,” said
the humbled Ms. Chin in a deep
Jamaican twang.
When asked how does she
do it all, she answered, “It’s the
music and the people I meet
along the way and all those I
can help, to introduce them
to the music, and to really
spread my culture throughout
the world. I also like to develop
new singers, some make it, and
some don’t.”
Caribbean L 36 ife, Aug. 16-23, 2019 BQ
Adding, “we are happy that
we continue to develop artistes,
producers and who ever loves
the culture and the music.”
Patricia Chin, who began
VP Records with deceased husband,
Vincent Chin, sums it
up to being gifted and lucky
to meet so many talented performers,
stating that many upand
coming artistes come to
VP Records for representation.
“They come to us and then
we develop their new songs,
and when they meet a certain
level, we sign them to
the label,” she said, adding “
we now have an arm, named
V-Pal, an incubator for new
singers. When they develop, we
put them on the VP label.”
“When I came to New York,
40 years ago, we went to Jamaica,
Queens, because it reminded
me of Jamaica back home,”
she said.
Some of the current artistes
on the VP Records label are
Beres Hammond, Jah Cure,
Estelle, Gregory Isaacs, Richie
Stephens, Buju Banton, and
Patricia Chin, co-founder of VP Records, proudly represents
the brand at 40. She stands in front of the label’s booth,
at the 2nd Annual Spirit of the Caribbean festival on the
front lawn of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, Jamaica
Queens. VP Records co-sponsored the event.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
many others.
Miss Pat is excited about
the 40th Anniversary upcoming
events, like the Live Painting
Murasaki at Summer Stage
Central Park, featuring Elephant
Man, Junior Reid, Estelle,
Raging Fayah, and more, on
Aug. 10, from 6 pm to 10 pm.
The Annual Jamaican Jerk
Festival, featuring Christopher
Martin, Capleton, Shenseea,
Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons,
Naomi Cowan, Blakka Ellis,
and more, will be held on Sunday,
Aug. 25, at Roy Wilkins
Park. Show time noon to 8
pm.
Patricia Chin – driving force
behind VP Records