The
label was started in 1960 by Emile E. Shalit, owner of Melodisc
Records Company.
He placed Sigimund "Siggy" Jackson in charge of the label, with
Jackson choosing the name Blue Beat, which was an adaptation
of "blues beat", a term for Jamaican blues music.
When the ska rhythm slowed to rocksteady in 1966, Melodisc decided
that a new label was needed, and started the FAB label, with
no new releases on Blue Beat after 1967.
The back catalogue continued to sell for several years.
The Blue Beat label was revived in 1972 for the release of John
Holt's "OK Fred" (BB 424). |