Island Records was founded by an American singer Graeme Goodall.
Graeme Goodall ( 1932 -- 3 December 2014 ) was an Australian recording engineer and record label owner who was a key figure in the early days of Jamaica 's recording industry , constructing several of the Island 's studios , co-founding Island Records , and operating other labels in the United Kingdom releasing Jamaican music . Island Records . It was founded by Chris Blackwell , Graeme Goodall and Leslie Kong in Jamaica in 1959 .