Chris Blackwell (born 22 June 1937) is the founder of Island Records. Born in London to an Irish father and a Costa Rican-born Sephardic Jewish mother. Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica. He was sent to England to continue his education at Harrow School. Deciding not to go to university, he returned to Jamaica to become ADC to the Governor of Jamaica Sir Hugh Foot. After Sir Hugh Foot was transferred to Cyprus, he left Kings House and pursu...
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Chris Blackwell (born 22 June 1937) is the founder of Island Records. Born in London to an Irish father and a Costa Rican-born Sephardic Jewish mother. Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica. He was sent to England to continue his education at Harrow School. Deciding not to go to university, he returned to Jamaica to become ADC to the Governor of Jamaica Sir Hugh Foot. After Sir Hugh Foot was transferred to Cyprus, he left Kings House and pursued a career in real estate and other businesses which brought him into contact with the Jamaican music community. He formed Island Records in 1959 and was one of the first to record the Jamaican popular music that eventually became known as ska music. In 1962, he returned to England and sold records from the back of his car to the Jamaican community. His business grew substantially, culminating in recognition as one of the most influential persons in the British music industry.
From this beginning, Blackwell progressed to bringing in licenced...
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