VP Records To Celebrate Anniversary With New York Show

On Saturday, VP Records will celebrate its 40th anniversary at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage at Central Park in New York City.

The free concert will be hosted by Pat McKay and Dubbmaster Chris. Warming up the crowd on the turntables will be DJ Belinda and Steelie Bashment.

Performers include Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Estelle and Raging Fyah.

This milestone event will also include the on-site creation, a ‘live’ painting by Japanese artist Murasaki.

Known for his colourful illustrations influenced by anime, comics, graffiti and Balinese paintings, Murasaki’s painting will be on a 10′ x 20′ canvas commemorating the anniversary event.

The artwork will serve as inspiration for the Murasaki-designed cover art for the upcoming VP Records compilation album, Strictly the Best Volume 60, slated for release November 22.

Earlier this year, VP Records debuted a multi-media exhibit chronicling its years in reggae music at the Sangster International Airport in Jamaica.

A condensed version of the exhibit will make its debut in the US at SummerStage.

Visual artifacts will educate concert attendees on the beginnings of the company as Randy’s Record Mart in Kingston, Jamaica, to the establishment of VP Records in Jamaica, New York, in 1979.

Fans of the label’s compilation series, Reggae Gold, Soca Gold and Strictly the Best, will also see the development of these individual projects over the years.

“For 40 years, New York City has supported VP Records in its efforts to present the best of Caribbean culture and island lifestyle through music, events and merchandise,” said company president Randy Chin. “We have worked tirelessly to put out the very best music in the genres of reggae, dancehall and soca. This event showcases our history and gives fans a taste of what’s to come.”