JAD Records
Label that signed Bob Marley and released his formative recordings.
JAD Records launched in 1967 as a joint venture between singer Johnny Nash, producer Arthur Jenkins, and businessman Danny Sims. The label’s name came from the first initials of the three partners. Its most famous signings were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Rita Marley, who were all locked into an exclusive long-term recording contract from 1968 to 1972. Other artists on the roster included Nash himself, Byron Lee, Neville Willoughby, and later Jimmy Cliff.
In 1996, JAD released *Soul Almighty - The Formative Years Vol 1*, a collection of reworked songs from Bob Marley’s early career. A follow-up, *Black Progress - The Formative Years Vol 2*, appeared soon after. Both albums took vocal tracks from Marley’s 1960s recordings and added modern backing parts, with contributions from Rita Marley, Bob’s son Ziggy, and members of the Melody Makers. Fan reaction was fiercely negative. In response, the label issued the landmark *Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967 to 1972* series, produced by Roger Steffens and Bruno Blum. Over six years, it delivered more than 240 original tracks, including over a hundred previously unreleased recordings. JAD could not, however, license the songs already tied to Island Records through the *Songs of Freedom* box set. Several years later, those rights were secured, and various sets containing some of the material were reissued under the JAD/Universal banner in 2004.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1967
- Founder
- Johnny Nash, Arthur Jenkins, Danny Sims
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
JAD could not initially license tracks already under contract to Island (part of the Songs Of Freedom box set), but several years later they managed to license all the tracks, and various sets containing some of them were reissued on JAD/Universal records in 2004.
Reader's Guide
JAD Records holds a unique place in music history as the label that first signed Bob Marley and the Wailers to a long-term contract, capturing their earliest studio work from 1968 to 1972. This period produced foundational material that later defined reggae's global rise. The label's controversial 1996 remix albums, which added modern backing to Marley's original vocals, sparked fan backlash but ultimately led to the landmark Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967 to 1972 series. This multi-volume set, produced by Roger Steffens and Bruno Blum, preserved over 240 original tracks, many previously unreleased, and became an essential resource for understanding Marley's artistic development. JAD's later licensing struggles with Island Records and eventual reissues on JAD/Universal in 2004 highlight the complex legacy of early reggae catalog management. The label's story illustrates both the commercial challenges and archival importance of preserving foundational recordings in a genre that would later achieve worldwide acclaim.
Did You Know?
- JAD Records was co-owned by Johnny Nash, Arthur Jenkins, and Danny Sims, whose initials formed the label's logo.
- The label signed Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Rita Marley to an exclusive long-term contract from 1968 to 1972.
- In 1996, JAD released two remix albums—Soul Almighty and Black Progress—that added modern backing tracks to Bob Marley's 1960s vocals, featuring Rita Marley, Ziggy Marley, and the Melody Makers.
- The Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967 to 1972 series, produced by Roger Steffens and Bruno Blum, contained over 240 original tracks, including more than a hundred previously unreleased recordings.
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