Duke Vin
Duke Vin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vincent George Forbes 25 October 1928 |
| Died | 3 November 2012 (aged 84) London, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Sound system operator |
| Years active | 1955–2009 |
| Known for | Operating the first Jamaican-style sound system in the UK |
Vincent George Forbes (25 October 1928 – 3 November 2012), better known as Duke Vin, was a Jamaican-born sound system operator and selector who operated the first sound system in the United Kingdom.
Biography
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Forbes was raised on Wildman Street and attended the Calabar All-Age School.[1]
He began his career as a selector on the Tom the Great Sebastian sound system in the early 1950s, being given a chance after helping Tom Wong to change a tyre on his car.[2][3][4] At the time, Forbes was known as "Shine-Shoes Vinny" due to his smart appearance.[1][5]
After travelling to England in 1954 as a stowaway on a boat from
In the 1960s his sound played at top London clubs, including
In the late 1960s he served time in prison after being convicted of
In 1973, Forbes was one of the founders of the Notting Hill Carnival, and performed at the event for 37 years, despite suffering a stroke in his later years.[2]
He was the subject of the 2009 documentary film Duke Vin and the Birth of Ska, directed by Gus Berger.[6]
Forbes died in London on 3 November 2012.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Duke Vin", The Daily Telegraph, 23 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Duke Vin: sound system pioneer". Jamaica Observer. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-1846094439, p. 16.
- ^ a b c d e f g Salewicz, Chris (21 November 2012), "Duke Vin: 'Soundman' who brought sound systems to Britain", The Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ Hutton, Clinton (1 December 2007), "Forging Identity And Community Through Aestheticism and Entertainment: The Sound System and The Rise Of The DJ", Caribbean Quarterly.
- ^ a b Burrell, Ian (2009), "The Duke of Notting Hill", The Independent, 4 September 2009.
- ISBN 978-1843533290, p. 384.
- ^ ISBN 978-0415058759, p. 77.
- ISBN 978-0415310185, p. 41.
- ISBN 978-1858286365, p. 457.
- ISBN 978-0140237634, p. 115.
External links
- Duke Vin and the Birth of Ska, Gusto Films