Siggy Jackson

Siggy Jackson took over from Jack Chilks as Emil Shalits partner running Melodisc Records in 1953, where he was involved in the licencing and production of the earliest imported and home-grown Calypso, High-Life, Jazz, and Cha-Cha in Britain. With the advent of Jamaican Blues he went on to form the legendary Blue Beat label in 1960. Blue Beat released over 400 singles and many LPs between 1960/67, and was the dominant label for releasing Jamaican and UK recorded music during that period - to the extent that Blue Beat became the generic term for Jamaican music in Britain during the '60s. Siggy parted company with Melodisc in 1967 and went to EMI where he formed the Columbia Blue Beat label, releasing some 20 UK produced records. The label was dormant for years (licenced to Buster Bloodvessel for a few releases in the 80s) until Marcus of No. 1 Station approached him with the idea of a "Blue Beat Revival".