Chris Blackwell (born June 22, 1937) is the founder of Island Records. Born in London to an English father and a Jamaican-born Sephardic Jewish mother, Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica, where he founded Island Records, Mango Records and Island Pictures. Each of these companies were sold to Polygram. With Island Records, Blackwell is known for starting the careers of Bob Marley, U2, Steve Winwood, Melissa Etheridge and PJ Harvey. Since selling those companies, he has gone on to found Palm Pictures, a media entertainment company with music, film and DVD releases.

Blackwell is currently associated with Island Outpost, which operates or markets a group of high-end resorts in Jamaica. Goldeneye is among the most exclusive of these resorts, which is located at — and named after — the property previously owned by Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels.

External Links

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Detail on Blackwell

1937 births | Living people | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees | Jamaican Jews | Jamaican record producers

Chris Blackwell | Chris Blackwell