The Islander
My Life in Music and Beyond
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bonnier Books Ltd
Published:8th Jun '23
Should be back in stock very soon
The definitive autobiography by renowned Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, looking back across his phenomenal life and career.
'An adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary' - BONO
As the founder of Island Records, fabled music producer Chris Blackwell has discovered and worked with some of the most important musicians of the second half of the twentieth century - from Steve Winwood to Cat Stevens, Bob Marley to Grace Jones, U2 to Roxy Music, plus countless others. He is also widely credited with having brought reggae music to the world stage.
Now, as reflects on his life, Blackwell 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, Blackwell's burgeoning musical instincts flourished. It was also the birthplace of the now-legendary Island Records, founded by Blackwell in 1959.
Five years later, while living in London selling Jamaican records to Caribbean immigrants, Blackwell came across the vocal talents of teenager Millie Small, who he paired with the song 'My Boy Lollipop'. The producer added a ska beat and released what would be a worldwide hit.
But this was just the beginning of a truly remarkable career. In this fascinating memoir, including up to fifty photos supplied by Blackwell's 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 Blackwell and his esteemed musical collaborators.
'As you're about to find out through the pages in this book, Chris Blackwell - who looms large in U2's life and was in fact our lifeline into the music world - is an adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary and a gentleman. I'm proud to know him.' -- 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. ****' * MOJO *
'Fascinating. 8/10' * UNCUT *
'A rip-roaring yarn, the ultimate behind-the-scenes insider look at the coolest label ever on the planet.' * THE QUIETUS *
'Fascinating autobiography of the Island Records founder. The Islander is a treasure.' * PROG *
'Highly recommended.' * KIRKUS *
'There are amazing insights. If you want to know how it was...read The Islander.' -- BOB LEFSETZ
'Highly readable' * The Guardian *
'Highly entertaining, rapid fire, hard to put down memoir' * Air Mail *
'If you're even a minor fan of music books....buy this autobiography. Fascinating' * Variety *
'A compelling autobiography' * The Observer *
'A compelling juicy book' * The Irish Times *
'An absorbing read' * Echoes *
'An extraordinary story and a wonderful book. It couldn't be more enthusiastically recommended' -- Mark Ellen * Word in Your Ear *
ISBN: 9781788705776
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 24mm
Weight: 327g
400 pages