NEXT WEEK, Island Records marks its 50th anniversary with a series of events in the United Kingdom. The musical highlight will be a five-day concert featuring some of the acts who helped make Chris Blackwell's company arguably the most successful independent record company.

Ernie Ranglin, Toots and the Maytals, Grace Jones, Aswad, Steel Pulse, Sly and Robbie and the Compass Point All Stars, Cat Stevens and Amy Winehouse are billed to perform at London's Sheperd's Bush Empire from May 26-31.

Bob Marley and U2 are easily Island's most successful acts. Tidbits Thursday looks at some of the other Jamaicans who contributed significantly to the label's success.

One of those Jamaican acts was Third World. Ibo Cooper was a founding member, keyboardist and vocalist with that band.

Cooper says Chris Blackwell was taken with Third World's eclectic sounds when he signed the group to Island in 1975. But he was ready to drop them in 1978 after they failed to produce a hit song.

"We had a mix of success with songs like 96 Degrees in The Shade, but the biggest hit was not until Now That We Found Love, because at that time Blackwell had decided to drop us from the label," Cooper explained. "He never liked the direction we were taking."

Now That We Found Love from the band's Journey to Addis album entered the Billboard magazine pop chart in 1978. It remains Third World's biggest hit.

Not enthused

Despite delivering a breakthrough song, Cooper said Blackwell was not enthused about a new look Third World sported after the release of Journey to Addis.

"He started to turn against us when wi started to locks. He never liked the image for us," Cooper said. "What he really wanted was a Jamaican boy band a la 'NSync."

Third World left Islanzd in 1980, moving on to Columbia and Mercury Records. Cooper believes Blackwell and Island Records were good for the group.

"We had no problems with him, business-wise he did us no wrong. He allowed us a lot of creative freedom," he said.

Ibo Cooper (on keyboards) and members of the Third World band performing at the Skyline Hotel's New Year's Ball in 1974. From left are bass player Richie Daley and guitarist Stephen 'Cat' Coore. The band was signed by Island Records in 1975.