Duke Vin & Notting Hill

Duke Vin, known as the man who gave birth to the UK's fist sound system and Ska music.
London in the 1950's was a cold place in many more ways than than one especially if you were one of the thousands of newly arrived Jamaicans of the time. Many were over qualified for the menial jobs they found themself doing and many of others quite simply could not find any work.

This was a time of discrimination and racial tensions which often culminated in fierce riots in both Nottingham and Notting Hill. It was in this environment that the Jamaican soundmen; Duke Vin and Count Suckle arrived in the UK in 1954. To get here they both stowed away on a boat from Kingston and brought with them an unique sound that was sweeping across the small Caribbean island and would be set to later change the face of music in the UK forever. This was to be know the sound of ska!

Duke Vin was the man who built the UK’s very first sound system in 1956, and who helped popularize Ska in the UK and make it one of the most influential musical styles, the effects of which can still be heard today. The rise of this unique music, which evolved from speeded up American R&B covers to brass heavy songs spoke of freedom and independence, gave more than a welcome relief at the time. After branching out to reggae and dub to the skinhead movement of the 80s, Ska was finally revived in the nineties and noughties by more popular main-stream bands including No Doubt.

Gus Berger, Film Director recently released a documentary of the story of which can be previewed opposite.

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