{"title":"Chris Blackwell","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChris 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 \u0026amp; The Wailers and U2 to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecognized 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-islander-my-life-in-music-and-beyond","title":"The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs the founder of Island Records, fabled music producer \u003cstrong\u003eChris Blackwell\u003c\/strong\u003e has discovered and worked with some of the most important musicians of the second half of the twentieth century - from \u003cstrong\u003eSteve Winwood\u003c\/strong\u003e to \u003cstrong\u003eCat Stevens\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eBob Marley\u003c\/strong\u003e to \u003cstrong\u003eGrace Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eU2\u003c\/strong\u003e to \u003cstrong\u003eRoxy Music\u003c\/strong\u003e, plus countless others. He is also widely credited with having brought reggae music to the world stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow, as he turns eighty-five, \u003cstrong\u003eBlackwell\u003c\/strong\u003e 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, \u003cstrong\u003eBlackwell's\u003c\/strong\u003e burgeoning musical instincts flourished. It was also the birthplace of the now-legendary Island Records, founded by \u003cstrong\u003eBlackwell\u003c\/strong\u003e in 1959.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFive years later, while living in London selling Jamaican records to Caribbean immigrants, \u003cstrong\u003eBlackwell\u003c\/strong\u003e came across the vocal talents of teenager Millie Small, who he paired with the song \"\u003cem\u003eMy Boy Lollipop\u003c\/em\u003e\". The producer added a ska beat and released what would be a worldwide hit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut this was just the beginning of a truly remarkable career. In this fascinating memoir, including up to fifty photos supplied by \u003cstrong\u003eBlackwell's\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003eBlackwell\u003c\/strong\u003e and his esteemed musical collaborators.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nine Eight Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback | Signed Copy","offer_id":50425693536587,"sku":"1137854","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":50425694880075,"sku":"2023277","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":50425693339979,"sku":"1137856","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/810clw8e1bL_5648ef13_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726792821"},{"product_id":"travelling-light","title":"Travelling Light","description":"\u003cp\u003eGreat release by Chris Davis who is one of the founding members of 80s cold wave legends Shoc Corridor, famous for their epic album \"Experiments in Incest\". On Travelling Light, his first solo release on vinyl, Chris Davis moves within the space between minimal wave and dark ambient. The three original tracks on side A are emotionally rich, melodically strong and leave you with a sense of nostalgia. On side B, the tracks are remixed by Electronic Emergencies' finest in various styles: dark electro by Rude 66, disco noir by Machinegewehr and industrial ambient by Yabibo Hazurfa. The beautiful cover art was painted by Silas Schletterer, inspired by the six tracks on Travelling Light.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Electronic Emergencies","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50457539772747,"sku":"1079623","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/016f72c5-fb60-4575-bcd7-680653475963_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727206231"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_5c795ef3_thumbnail_4096_84bd2171-a922-4ada-8aa7-3dfbf12547c7.jpg?v=1726792783","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/chris-blackwell.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}