Name: The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond
Brand: Chris Blackwell

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

9781788705752.

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Colour

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format Books GB

Hardback

Format detail

Free Island Records T-shirt

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Limited edition

Release date

2022-06-09

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Bonnier Books

Tax rate GB

Zero:0

UPC / Barcode

9781788705752

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "9781788705752"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / Extended format: No / Hardback / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

9781788705776

Paperback

2023-06-08

Artist

Chris Blackwell

Genre GB

Music

Label GB

Nine Eight Books

Chris Blackwell is a UK producer who was born in London on June 22, 1937. Growing up in Jamaica, he later returned to London and recognized the potential for reggae and dub music. This led him to establish Island Records, which licensed this genre of music for the UK market. The label's first notable signing was The Spencer Davis Group, and it went on to introduce renowned artists like Bob Marley & The Wailers and U2 to the world.
In 1992, Blackwell co-founded South Beach Studios with Joe Galdo. While Island Records eventually became part of a major label group in the late 80s under his leadership, Blackwell handed over control to Polygram before forming Palm Pictures. This new venture encompasses various brands including Blue Mountain Music and Island Outpost, which offers luxurious Jamaican holiday resorts.
Recognized for his contributions to the music industry, Chris Blackwell was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a Non-Performer. It is important not to confuse him with Robert Plant's drummer or Charles Blackwell, another prominent British arranger and composer.

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As the founder of Island Records, fabled music producer Chris Blackwell has discovered and worked with some of the most important musicians of the second half of the twentieth century - from Steve Winwood to Cat Stevens, Bob Marley to Grace Jones, U2 to Roxy Music, plus countless others. He is also widely credited with having brought reggae music to the world stage. Now, as he turns eighty-five, Blackwell takes us back to the island where it all began: Jamaica - the place where his family once partied with the likes of Noël Coward, Ian Fleming and Errol Flynn and where, as Jamaican local music began to adopt contemporary American trends, Blackwell's burgeoning musical instincts flourished. It was also the birthplace of the now-legendary Island Records, founded by Blackwell in 1959. Five years later, while living in London selling Jamaican records to Caribbean immigrants, Blackwell came across the vocal talents of teenager Millie Small, who he paired with the song 'My Boy Lollipop'. The producer added a ska beat and released what would be a worldwide hit. But this was just the beginning of a truly remarkable career. In this fascinating memoir, including up to fifty photos supplied by Blackwell's team, the music icon will discuss the many artists he's worked with over the years, as well as unpicking the initiatives, decisions and risks that ultimately brought such success to both Blackwell and his esteemed musical collaborators.

The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond

Books GB