PATRICIA CHIN OF VP RECORDS GETS A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD!

Patricia ‘Miss Pat’ Chin, widow of Vincent Chin and co-founder of VP Records, received the Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday night at the Libera Awards in New York.

Chin is the first female recipient of the award, presented by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM). She gave an emotional acceptance speech at the Highline Ballroom.

“I am honored to be the first female to receive such a prestigious award. Words cannot truly convey my feelings. I’m so pleased to be recognized by the independent music community and A2IM, the reason being that, the spirit of independence has always been so deeply ingrained in my heart and thus, the heart of my business and life,” said Chin, who received a standing ovation.

The function was attended by music industry heavyweights including Tommy Boy Records founder and CEO Tom Silverman; Seymour Stein, vice-president of Warner Brothers and co-founder of Sire Records; Bruce Iglauer, founder of Chicago’s Alligator Records; and Martin Mills, founder of the Beggers Group, which comprises XL Recordings, Matador Records and Rough Trade Records.

Mills, Silverman and Iglauer are previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Patricia and Vincent Chin started Randy’s Record label and mart in 1958. Randy’s recorded a number of artists who became world-famous: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Augustus Pablo, Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs.

After relocating to the United States, they established VP Records in 1979 in Queens. The company is the largest distributor of reggae worldwide.

The company has been credited for breaking many Jamaican and Caribbean acts in the United States. They include Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Lady Saw, Tanto Metro and Devonte, Morgan Heritage and Elephant Man.

Vincent Chin died in 2003.

Their children, Randy, Christopher and Angela, and grandchildren, attended the awards.

This is the fourth Libera Awards which are promoted by the A2IM that recognises the achievements of the independent music community.

By Kevin Jackson—