VP Records, the world’s largest reggae music company, has started a yearlong calendar of activities in celebration of its 40th Year Anniversary.
In addition to its co-sponsorship of the 2nd Annual Spirit of the Caribbean Festival (JCAL) on Aug. 3, at the Jamaica Performance Center, and Grace Annual Jerk Festival, on Aug. 25 at Roy Wilkins Park, Merrick & Baisley blvds., Queens, music group, will feature a variety of music and cultural events, products, historical exhibits and experiences, in Jamaica, across the US, Toronto, Canada and London.
“VP is integral to the history of reggae and dancehall music,” said company president Randy Chin Jr.”
“We take this responsibility seriously, and we are using our 40th anniversary to celebrate the music’s rich heritage as we steward the genre into the future.”
“A major focus for the anniversary is highlighting the company’s commitment to the development, promotion, and globalization of Jamaican music.”
Marketing Caribbean culture and island lifestyle through music, events and merchandise, VP Records has been at the heart of reggae, dancehall and Soca for 40 years.
From Dennis Brown, Barrington Levy and Freddie McGregor to Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Lady Saw and Tarrus Riley, VP Records has become home to some of the biggest acts in reggae music.
The label’s current roster includes Alborosie, Jah Cure, Raging Fyah, Gyptian, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica, Ikaya, Jah9, Fay-Ann Lyons, Christopher Martin, Maxi Priest, Busy Signal, Spice, Romain Virgo and Spiritual.
Founding partner of VP Records, Patricia Chin, who guided the record label to a resounding success, with late husband, Vincent Chin (Vincent & Patricia VP) over the years, imparted her wisdom for success to new artistes.
She encouraged businesses to “surround yourself with dedicated and passionate people,” “love what you do and do what you love” while embracing change and sharing in success.”
There is no doubt, these words have moulded the gentle Chin, and helped her to achieve the extraordinary levels she has reached as head of the Caribbean-American owned music giant, VP Records.
VP Records turns 40 this year, and its stellar accomplishments speak for itself, as could be seen by the myriad of artistes it has represented, its contributions, promotions, charitable offerings, and fan base, that has generated millions of dollars over the many years, through unprecedented amounts of recordings.
The international brand has received many accolades because of its brilliant success and marketing strategies that have made the label the largest and most famous that came from humble beginnings in Jamaica.
According to many news sources, VP Records was launched in the late 50s by two Jamaicans Vincent ‘Randy’ Chin and Patricia Chin, of Chinese ancestry, who used their initiative to sell used jukebox singles from behind the counter of Randy’s Record Store in Kingston.
The success of the label was due in part to big names such as Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh Augustus Pablo, and many others with extraordinary talent, that the Chins helped to mould into superstars.
With drive and ambition to succeed despite odds, the Chins immigrated to the United States in the 70s with a small amount of money to their name, but with big dreams that were fulfilled in another Jamaica, Jamaica, Queens.
The couple worked diligently to build the brand that, developed into a powerhouse music entity, throughout the world.
Chin once told Rototom Sunsplash, “I am blessed to be alive to see artists from 50 years ago, after selling used records from our tiny record store,” noting, how much Reggae music had touched the world.
“So many people like Reggae music, all the fans that supported the music and love the music. You have to feel the music. When we started, it was for the love of people. They needed to do their thing in comfort, and make music.”
He is gone (husband Vincent Chin) but he is laughing where he is now, because he has seen, so many artists pass through and become successful. Their success is my success, said Patricia Chin, during an interview with Rototom Sunsplash.
