Trinidad Express
Bunji Garlin signs with VP Records
Wayne Bowman
Friday, November 10th 2006
Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin has signed a production/distribution deal with VP Records, which is the label on which Jamaican dancehall artiste Sean Paul achieved international stardom.
The label is owned by the Chin family of Jamaica and has, over the past decade, established bases in the United States, Europe and Japan, making it the most successful recording label to have been spawned in the Caribbean. VP Records is also one of the most successful independent recording labels in the world.
Garlin's manager, Ian Pantin, who is the founder of the IP International Label, told the Express yesterday that Garlin was signed by the label's owner, Christopher Chin, who has given the three-time International Soca Monarch a one-year single album production deal with an option of an additional two albums over an additional two years.
The deal guarantees worldwide distribution that will see Garlin's albums on the shelves of major music stores throughout the world.
As for the value of this deal, Pantin said he was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, but he did admit that they were given an offer they could not refuse.
Garlin has already begun working on new music for this first project and once all goes well, Pantin said they would take advantage of the option.
Garlin is presently putting things in place for his marriage to Faye-Ann Lyons on December 2.
Pantin said the wedding would be a very small and private affair for family, close friends and some members of the entertainment fraternity. The venues of the ceremony and reception will remain unknown to the general public in an effort to maintain the privacy of the couple.
Garlin is also in the process of putting the finishing touches to his 2007 Carnival CD collection.
Among the songs that fans can look forward to is an updated version of "Hot Hot Hot", featuring Garlin alongside the classic song's creator Arrow. Garlin has also done a soca duet with Jamaican reggae legend, Freddie McGregor, as well as a pan song in collaboration with Kernel Roberts.