- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
“They didn’t know that a woman can do music, but I’m the one that started long, long, long before Bob Marley got popular.”
Patricia Chin, aka “Miss Pat”, is an iconic Chinese Jamaican trailblazer often known as the “Godmother of Reggae.” In the late 1950s, she co-founded the records store Randy’s Record Mart with her husband Vincent “Randy” Chin. Later, they built Studio 17, a recording studio located above the store, frequented by legendary artists in the golden age of reggae, including Bob Marley & the Wailers, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Gregory Isaacs, and countless more.
After two decades of building a reggae business, political turmoil in Jamaica forced the couple to flee to the United States in the late 1970s. Settling in a new Jamaica—this time, in Queens—they established VP Records in 1979. Over the next few decades, Randy and Pat once again built their reggae business from the ground up, and VP Records eventually became the largest and most successful reggae label in the world.
Miss Pat was featured in Episode 3 of our Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out (2023) series, produced in partnership with PBS and Exploring Hate. We also honored Miss Pat at our 2023 Gala for her trailblazing career revolutionizing reggae and fostering Asian Caribbean culture.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we were so fortunate to catch up with Miss Pat and hear more of her inspiring story!
What are some of the takeaways for you for being honored?
Firstly, I want to thank the Serica Initiative for inviting me to receive this award. I am hoping this honor will inspire other women to follow their dream and to realize that nothing is impossible.
I never thought my company would become such a success. I came here in the late ‘70s with my husband, Vincent, and started VP Records. It’s been a great honor to be recognized for myself, my late husband, my family, and my team’s vision. It is such a privilege to carry the torch of reggae music, which I talked about in my book, Miss Pat: My Reggae Journey, about my struggles and my success.
What do you hope to inspire in others?
If you don’t take the first step and trust your instinct, you’ll never know what could be. My husband and I came to the United States over 45 years ago with a vision of sharing reggae music and our culture to the world. VP Records is now the leading distributor of Caribbean music.
Without the first step, none of this could have happened. It was not easy, but with hard work, dedication, and passion, you can succeed. If you stumble, just get up and start again. And don't be afraid to ask for help when needed.
Who were/are your role models and how did they contribute to your success?
I have many. Firstly, my mother, Rebecca Chin Williams, who could not read, but she was a wise person. She sent my sister and I to music school and dressmaking classes with the little pennies that she had. She and my dad installed love and passion in us and to always give back to the less fortunate. And she also taught us the importance of friendship and community.
My aunt who came here in the 40s, she joined the NAACP, giving back her service as secretary and bookkeeper. She took me around many times in her fundraising events, showing me the importance of helping others and also the community. She died recently at the age of 96 but at 80 when she retired, she had a lot of energy to do good to others.
I also admire my dear friend, Sister Nancy, who recently resurrected her big song, What a BamBam, after 40 years. It’s now riding high on the charts.
I also want to acknowledge all the female singers that are bold enough to create music in their own way and their own style. It so happened that this month is Women's History Month, and I am very grateful to be included as one of the women who paved the way.
How would you compare your experiences as a businesswoman in New York vs. Jamaica? What unique challenges and opportunities have you encountered?
In Jamaica, my late husband and I built a studio, Studio 17, so that the young artists could showcase their talents. In Jamaica, our business naturally grew and grew. But after 20 years running a music business, I sadly had to leave Jamaica, my family, my friends, and my business behind.
When I came to New York in the late ‘70s, I had to relearn a lot of things: the language, the culture. And I had to start over, backwards 20 years, like I started in Jamaica. I had to research who would carry reggae music, and to build trust and friendship with them. It was a challenge to be in a new environment and being a woman in a male-dominated industry, And on top of it all, being a Chinese woman selling reggae music, it was a strange phenomenon.
In America, people knew all about Bob Marley, but back home in Jamaica, we had so many more talented singers, producers, artists, who I wanted to help them and to share their talents with the world. Today, reggae music is being played all over the world, and I'm so happy and grateful that I stopped to my vision with the love of Jamaican culture, which played a very important part in this legacy. Music brings people together, and it is a language of the world.
So I want to thank the Serica Initiative for the privilege of sharing my story inspired by culture and music. I am so grateful and I encourage all women to pursue their dreams and never to give up. Thank you all!
Read more about Miss Pat's story and find links to buy her memoir, Miss Pat: My Reggae Music Journey, at her website! Thank you Miss Pat for taking the time to share your story with us!
Join us at our 2026 AAPI Trailblazers Gala: The Power of Us on April 30 to honor the AAPI pioneers shaping the future of business, medicine, and global culture whose leadership transcends and unites industries and geographies. Find out more about the honorees & buy your tickets and tables at: www.sericainitiative.org/2026gala!
