Chris Blackwell Jamaica

Chris Blackwell, cofounder of Island Records, recalls the rise of the Jamaican music scene during his youth.

Chris Blackwell, cofounder of Island Records, recalls
the rise of the Jamaican music scene during his youth.

Island Time

As Island Records founder Chris Blackwell publishes 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.

As Island Records founder Chris Blackwell publishes
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.

“

I loved music so much, I just wanted to get
into it, or be as close to it as I could.

I loved music so much, I just
wanted to get into it, or be as
close to it as I could.

—chris blackwell

During the 1950s, the sound system concept became wildly 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.

During the 1950s, the sound system concept became wildly
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.

In 1962, Jamaica gained its independence from 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 boot. 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.

In 1962, Jamaica gained its independence from
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 boot. 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.

C L O C K W I S E F R O M T O P L E F T : An LP by jazz 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.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: An LP by jazz
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.

“

It’s extraordinary that there’s this much
music coming out of one little island.

It’s extraordinary that there’s
this much music coming out of
one little island.

—chris blackwell

Get Up, Stand Up

Upbeat and danceable, Jamaican ska music was 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 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.”

Upbeat and danceable, Jamaican ska music was
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.”

After Bob Marley, Island Records went on to sign 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.

After Bob Marley, Island Records went on to sign
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.

Chris Blackwell is the owner of the famed GoldenEye estate in 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.

Chris Blackwell is the owner of the famed GoldenEye estate in
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.

From Golden Head to GoldenEye

From Golden Head
to GoldenEye

In 1943, Ian Fleming—then a British naval officer—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 amid 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.

In 1943, Ian Fleming—then a British naval officer—
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
amid 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.

Fleming’s first Bond novel was an instant success, and he entertained a coterie of artists,
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 honour the wishes of his friend.

Fleming’s first Bond novel was an instant success, and
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 honour
the wishes of his friend.

Author Ian Fleming on a beach near GoldenEye, 1964.

“

I wrote every one of the 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.

I wrote every one of the
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.

—IAN FLEMING