Island Records Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

Island Records, arguably one of the most prestigious record labels in the U.K., is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. 

What is Island Records you might ask? Only the label responsible for discovering Bob Marley and the Wailers, Cat Stevens, and U2 to name a few!

The Story

In 1959,  Chris Blackwell started Island Records on a shoestring budget in Jamaica. At the young age of 22, he had fallen in love with the music of a pianist called Lance Hayward, who had been performing in his hotel. Blackwell took him into a recording studio. He  continued to take local artists into the studio and Island was soon enjoying a string of number one hits in Jamaica. Blackwell moved to London a few years later and became a music mogul in 1964, when he brought 14-year-old Millie Small from Jamaica to London to record a song called My Boy Lollipop. For the next few decades, Blackwell tried to find artists who were likely to have long careers, which resulted in signing artists from a variety of different musical genres (ska, reggae, rock). The label has encompassed all different strains of music, but  they have all contributed to some sense of a label identity, where any music of quality would find a home.

Roots Connection

In addition to Island Records, Blackwell founded and runs Palm Pictures, an entertainment company that produces innovative music and films. Roots co-founder Michael Budman is a longtime friend of Chris Blackwell, and both have been interested in the arts and entertainment industry. When Palm Pictures produced the Goldeneye Film Festival in Jamaica in 2004, Roots became the original official sponsor. “This is a spectacular event in a truly unique setting with a great mix of highly talented people from the film industry,” says Michael. “I’ve long admired Chris Blackwell’s work and Roots is proud to be associated with the Goldeneye Festival.” Festival guests received exclusive limited edition Roots Varsity Bags made at the Roots leather goods factory in Toronto. Pretty neat, huh?

Sources

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8058612.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4974348/Island-Records-how-they-became-an-artists-paradise.html

http://www.island50.com/press