Chris Blackwell and Bob Marley

Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell (born 22 June 1937) is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, one of the most successful and groundbreaking independent record companies in history.Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to which Blackwell was inducted in 2001, he is the single person most responsible for turning the world on to reggae music.

Forming Island Records in Jamaica in 1959 aged 22, Blackwell was amongst the first to record the Jamaican popular music that eventually became known as ska. Returning to Britain in 1962, he sold records from the back of his car to the Jamaican community.

Chris Blackwell with Bob Marley

Backed by Stanley Borden from RKO Entertainment, Blackwell's business and reach grew substantially, and he went on to forge the careers of Bob Marley, Grace Jones and U2 amongst many other diverse high-profile acts. He has produced many seminal albums, including Marley's Catch A Fire and Uprising. Blackwell is known for his laid-back approach to his business, and the care he shows for his artists and the release of their work. He is recognized as one of the most influential people in Britain, and the global music industry.


IslandRecords.com