THIS is a year of milestones in Jamaican pop culture. The Third World band turned 40 and is celebrating that anniversary with a worldwide tour.

Here are some other highlights.

45 years ago

* Desmond Dekker and the Aces record Israelites for producer Leslie Kong. The song became a massive hit in Britain in 1969.

* The Inner Circle band is formed by brothers Ian and Roger Lewis, Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore and Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper.

40 years ago

* Funky Kingston, a groundbreaking album by Toots and the Maytals, is released. Contains the title track, Daddy and Festival Song winner Pomps and Pride.

* Catch A Fire and Burnin’, two outstanding albums by The Wailers, are released by Island Records in 1973.

* The Channel One studio opens at Maxfield Avenue. Its first hit song is singer Delroy Wilson’s cover of The Spinners’ It’s a Shame.

* Studio One releases its Presenting Burning Spear album. The debut by the St Ann singer includes the song Door Peep.

* Producer Winston ‘Niney’ Holness and the Soul Syndicate band record a series of classic songs with teenaged singer Dennis Brown. They include Cassandra.

35 years ago

* The movie, Children of Babylon directed by Lennie Little-White and starring Bob Andy and Leonie Forbes, opens.

* The inaugural Reggae Sunsplash is held at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay. Dennis Brown, Culture and Burning Spear are headliners.

* Rockers, a movie starring drummer Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace and singer Kiddus-I, is released.

* The One Love Peace Concert is held at the National Stadium to help ease conflict between political factions.

30 years ago

* Check It, the debut album by dub poet Mutabaruka, is released by Chicago’s Alligator Records.

* The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder, Beenie Man’s first album, is released by producer Bunny Lee.

20 years ago

* All She Wrote, a hit-laden album by the deejay/singer duo of Chaka Demus and Pliers, is released by Mango Records, a subsidiary of Island Records. Six songs from the set, including Tease Me and Gal Wine, make the British Top 20 chart.

10 years ago

* Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry wins the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for the project Jamaican ET. Among the other artistes nominated were Bounty Killer, Capleton and Freddie McGregor.

* Singer Wayne Wonder’s single No Letting Go reaches number three in the UK Singles Chart and peaks at number 11 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.