Chris Blackwell and Rita Marley at the February 2008 Reggae Academy Awards in Kingston. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

ISLAND RECORDS, the powerful independent company founded in Kingston in 1959, marks its 50th anniversary this year. A statement from founder Chris Blackwell says a week-long celebration scheduled for England in May will mark the occasion.

Blackwell will oversee the event, titled 'Island 50 Live', at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. Activities include live music, movies produced by Island as well as an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to work with some of the greatest musical artistes of all time," said Blackwell in a statement. "It was always my intention at Island to make records that stood the test of time, and I'm proud that Island is still a potent force in music 50 years since that first release."

Some of Island's classic albums are to be reissued this year; there will also be a series of compilations and box sets.

Son of an Irish father and Jamaican mother of Portuguese/Jewish heritage, the London-born Blackwell started Island at Odeon Avenue but moved operations to London in the early 1960s when Jamaican popular music was taking off through ska.

Island distributed early Jamaican hits such as Millie Small's My Boy Lollipop throughout Britain during the 1960s. One of the company's first major signings was the British pop group, the Spencer Davis Group, which included a young Steve Winwood.

Blackwell and Island hit it big during the 1970s when it established itself as the record industry's biggest 'indie' company. Among its acts were Cat Stevens, Traffic, Bob Marley, Third World, Burning Spear and Steel Pulse.

In the 1980s, the company stepped it up a notch by signing an Irish band named U2. It distributed some of the group's biggest albums, including 1986's multi-platinum seller, The Joshua Tree.

Blackwell sold Island to the major Polygram company in 1989. The label's catalogue is currently distributed by the Universal Music Group.

Island sounds: Great reggae moments

Catch A Fire, Burnin' and Natty Dread were Bob Marley and the Wailers' first three Island albums. Blackwell kept faith in the group, although the first two were not big sellers.

In 1975, Island unleashed a new singer called Burning Spear. It distributed his groundbreaking Marcus Garvey and Garvey's Ghost albums.

Third World were signed to Island in 1975. The group's breakthrough album, 1978's Journey to Addis, contained the dance hit, Now That We Found Love.

Grace Jones' Nightclubbing album, produced by Sly and Robbie, was released in 1981. It spawned the hit song, Pull Up To The Bumper.

All She Wrote, the gold seller (500,000 units) by Chaka Demus and Pliers was Island's last big reggae seller. It was released on the company's Mango label.

Blackwell launched the Island Jamaica subsidiary in 1994. It released albums by Beenie Man (Blessed), Luciano (Where There is Life) and Spanner Banner (Chill).