the rise of the Jamaican music scene during his youth.
Island Time
and Beyond, David Yurman revisits our interviews with this iconic producer. He shared with us the
profound role music has always played in his life, and how the rise of the Jamaican music scene
launched him into a whole new career.
While working as a waterskiing instructor in Jamaica in his twenties, he fell in love with the music
of a jazz ensemble playing at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay. “I probably had a couple too
many rums and said to the band, I’d love to record you,” Blackwell remembers. He drove the band
to a sound studio in Kingston, and Island Records was born. At the time, Jamaican records catered
only to tourists, but Blackwell was about to change that.
his memoir, The Islander: My Life in Music and
Beyond, David Yurman revisits our interviews with
this iconic producer. He shared with us the profound
role music has always played in his life, and how the
rise of the Jamaican music scene launched
him into a whole new career.
While working as a waterskiing instructor in Jamaica
in his twenties, he fell in love with the music of a jazz
ensemble playing at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego
Bay. “I probably had a couple too many rums and
said to the band, I’d love to record you,” Blackwell
remembers. He drove the band to a sound studio in
Kingston, and Island Records was born. At the time,
Jamaican records catered only to tourists, but
Blackwell was about to change that.
into it, or be as close to it as I could.
wanted to get into it, or be as
close to it as I could.
speakers and threw outdoor parties. Jamaicans loved the new music, and Chris Blackwell, featured above, began recording LPs of local artists.
popular in Kingston. All throughout the city, DJs and MCs
loaded up trucks with stacks of speakers and threw outdoor
parties. Jamaicans loved the new music, and Chris Blackwell,
featured above, began recording LPs of local artists.
where the music produced by Island Records was quickly gaining popularity in the immigrant
population. He delivered LPs to record shops in West Indian communities, driving from town to
town in his Mini Cooper with records in his trunk. It wasn’t long until Blackwell’s releases began
to strike a chord with young Brits as well. Two years later, “My Boy Lollipop,” a ska tune by Millie
Small, one of Blackwell’s artists, became a smash hit, selling 6 million copies around the world.
England. Blackwell moved to London, where the
music produced by Island Records was quickly
gaining popularity in the immigrant population.
He delivered LPs to record shops in West Indian
communities, driving from town to town in his
Mini Cooper with records in his trunk. It wasn’t
long until Blackwell’s releases began to strike a
chord with young Brits as well. Two years later,
“My Boy Lollipop,” a ska tune by Millie Small,
one of Blackwell’s artists, became a smash hit,
selling 6 million copies around the world.
Jamaica became an independent nation in 1962; Blackwell helped introduce the Skatalites, early pioneers of ska, to the world.
pianist Lance Hayward that was produced by Chris
Blackwell; Jamaica became an independent nation
in 1962; Blackwell helped introduce the Skatalites,
early pioneers of ska, to the world.
music coming out of one little island.
this much music coming out of
one little island.
reggae. Blackwell saw something special in a young Rastafarian named Bob Marley, and signed
him as an artist. The songs quickly propelled him to stardom. When Blackwell was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, he was described as “the single person most
responsible for turning the world on to reggae music.”
the precursor to a more mellow musical style:
reggae. Blackwell saw something special in a
young Rastafarian named Bob Marley, and signed
him as an artist. The songs quickly propelled him
stardom. When Blackwell was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, he was
described as “the single person most responsible
for turning the world on to reggae music.”

Grace Jones, The Cranberries, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Waits, U2 and Amy Winehouse. Thanks
to Blackwell’s eclectic taste and keen eye for talent, the independent record label soon became a
global powerhouse. Blackwell sold Island Records to PolyGram in 1989.
a diverse list of influential artists, including
Grace Jones, The Cranberries, Melissa Etheridge,
Tom Waits, U2 and Amy Winehouse. Thanks to
Blackwell’s eclectic taste and keen eye for talent,
the independent record label soon became a
global powerhouse. Blackwell sold Island
Records to PolyGram in 1989.

lush paradise that originally belonged to the dashing 007 writer Ian Fleming. Blackwell discusses GoldenEye’s history as the
birthplace of James Bond, and how he came to own the storied property.
Jamaica, where several David Yurman campaigns were
shot—a lush paradise that originally belonged to the
dashing 007 writer Ian Fleming. Blackwell discusses
GoldenEye’s history as the birthplace of James
Bond, and how he came to own the storied property.
to GoldenEye
Kingston, Jamaica. The island nation's serene beauty enchanted him, and he bought 15 acres
of land in the banana port town of Oracabessa (Spanish for “Golden Head”). Fleming
sketched a simple three-bedroom, barracks-style villa and named the property after one of
his WWII intelligence operations, GoldenEye. Guests joked that the house was too sparse
and uncomfortable, but for Fleming, it was perfect. Simple white rooms with views of the
sea and a crescent-shaped beach, all amidst a lush landscape with a private sunken garden.
Here, Fleming would bathe at sunrise, snorkel by day and “write the spy story to end all spy
stories,” as he once told a naval intelligence colleague.
attended a military conference in Kingston, Jamaica.
The island nation's serene beauty enchanted him, and
he bought 15 acres of land in the banana port town of
Oracabessa (Spanish for “Golden Head”). Fleming
sketched a simple three-bedroom, barracks-style villa
and named the property after one of his WWII
intelligence operations, GoldenEye. Guests joked that
the house was too sparse and uncomfortable, but for
Fleming, it was perfect. Simple white rooms with
views of the sea and a crescent-shaped beach, all
amidst a lush landscape with a private sunken garden.
Here, Fleming would bathe at sunrise, snorkel by day
and “write the spy story to end all spy stories,” as he
once told a naval intelligence colleague.
writers, musicians and Hollywood stars at GoldenEye. In 1956, he met Blanche Blackwell,
Chris’ mother, who lived next door. They became close friends, and one of Chris Blackwell’s
first jobs was location scout and soundtrack consultant for the 1961 Bond film, Dr. No.
Sadly, Fleming died just three years later. Ever since, Chris Blackwell has maintained
GoldenEye in its original style, to honor the wishes of his friend.
he entertained a coterie of artists, writers, musicians
and Hollywood stars at GoldenEye. In 1956, he met
Blanche Blackwell, who lived next door. They became
close friends, and one of Chris Blackwell’s first jobs
was a location scout and soundtrack consultant for
the 1961 Bond film, Dr. No. Sadly, Fleming died just
three years later. Ever since, Chris Blackwell has
maintained GoldenEye in its original style, to honor
the wishes of his friend.
Would these books have been born if I had
not been living in the gorgeous vacuum of a
Jamaican holiday? I doubt it.
Bond thrillers here… Would
these books have been born
if I had not been living in
the gorgeous vacuum of a
Jamaican holiday? I doubt it.