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The Islander

My Life in Music and Beyond

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The Islander

By: Chris Blackwell, Paul Morley - contributor
Narrated by: Bill Nighy
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About this listen

 '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.©2022 Chris Blackwell (P)2022 Bonnier Books UK Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity Inspiring Thought-Provoking Entertainment Caribbean

Critic reviews

"An adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary." (Bono)
All stars
Most relevant
Thanks to Chris Blackwell the selector I got to understand more about the pathways of the artists. Artists who have bought years of pleasure to my life.

Well worth a listen.

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What slide, what a story, what excellent narration by a National Treasure about a Living Legend!

Life’s a Beach!

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Most enlightening and enjoyable especially Nighy reading it. Jamaica came alive and imagination of scenery and musicians.

Interesting

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Chris Blackwell superb autobiography gives the listener an insight into the world of the Island Records and the entrepreneur who lead it describing the deep lifelong love of Jamaica and the so many fascinating stories of many of my heroes including Bob Marley and John Martin enthralled my imagination.Honest, revealing and thoughtful as..

Superb insight

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love Chris the book is chock full of everything you would expect and more.
love Bill narrattion. will.listen again and again!

amazing adventures and stories

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