The reggae family has lost one of its legends with the death of Duke Vin (real name Vincent George), who died on 3 November in London at over 80 years of age – his year of birth, in the late 1920s, remains unknown.
After working as a selector for Thomas Wong's pioneering "Tom The Great Sebastian" sound system in the early 1950s, the Jamaican clandestinely made his way to England by boat in 1954, with his friend Count Suckle.
"When I arrived, the country was dead. You couldn't find anyone to dance!", Duke Vin would say later.
Based in the Ladbroke Grove area of London, this music fanatic created the first UK sound system, "The Tickler". He quickly moved from R'n'B to ska, popularising the music across the country.
More generally, by bringing his Jamaican touch and importing productions (necessarily unreleased ones) directly from his native land, Duke Vin initiated the reggae movement and sound-system culture in the United Kingdom.
"Going to pubs wasn't something I was used to. So I thought I had to liven things up. I charged people 5 pounds at dance parties held on Saturday nights in people's main houses. It was pure madness. People – black or white – loved the music. It was something."
In the 1960s, the man who described himself as "a fit man with a lot of energy" went on to spin his precious records at the Marquee and the Flamingo, the capital's fashionable clubs. He also took part in clashes, against Sir Coxsonne and Count Suckle.
In 1973, Duke Vin was also one of the co-founders of the Nothing Hill carnival, afterwards playing every year at the corner of Talbot Road.
The adventure of the legendary Duke Vin – and that of Count Suckle - also inspired the Australian director Gus Berger, who made the 2009 documentary "Duke Vin, Count Suckle and the Birth of Ska".
Extracts from Gus Berger's documentary
Duke Vin, Count Suckle & the Birth of Ska in Britain - trailer from AdamPellinDeeve on Vimeo.