The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond
Chris Blackwell
An Uncut Magazine Book of the Year
A Telegraph Book of the Year
A Financial Times Book of the Year
'An adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary' - BONO
As the founder of Island Records, renowned music producer Chris Blackwell has discovered and worked with some of the most legendary artists of the second half of the twentieth century - from Steve Winwood to Cat Stevens, Bob Marley to Grace Jones, U2 to Roxy Music, via Nick Drake, the B-52's and Robert Palmer. A maverick free spirit himself, Blackwell turned Island into a home for groundbreaking musicians and their wildly divergent music styles, playing an instrumental role in bringing reggae to the world stage.
Now, as he turns eighty-five, the great raconteur takes us back to the island where it all began: Jamaica - the paradise where his family once partied with the likes of Noël Coward, Ian Fleming and Errol Flynn and where, as local Jamaican sounds began to adopt contemporary American trends, Blackwell's burgeoning musical instincts flourished. It was also the birthplace of the cutting-edge Island Records, founded by Blackwell in 1959. But that was just the start of a truly remarkable career...
Winding through the music industry, this fascinating memoir makes for a giddy ride, encountering Island's many esteemed collaborators over the years and unpacking the initiatives, decisions and risks that ultimately brought such enduring success to Blackwell, both in music and beyond.
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About Chris Blackwell
Reviews for The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond
Bono 'C.B. had this way of throwing me in the deep end knowing that I would thrive on being challenged. As you'll read in The Islander, he knows how to get the very best out of people - he's a mover and a shaker and a mischief-maker.'
Grace Jones 'I read Chris Blackwell's autobiography in one sitting, unable to tear myself away. From "My Boy Lollipop" and Bob Marley, via Swinging London and punk, all the way to Talking Heads and U2, I felt like I was reading the inside story of the music of my life.'
Salman Rushdie 'A thoroughly quotable autobiography, a book that's hard to put down. 4/5'
Mojo 'Fascinating. 8/10'
Uncut 'Highly readable.'
The Guardian 'A compelling autobiography.'
The Observer 'A story told with disciplined coherence that plunges deep beneath the surface.'
Daily Telegraph 'Highly recommended.'
Kirkus 'If you're even a minor fan of music books ... buy this autobiography. Fascinating.'
Variety