Participating Innovators

Chris Blackwell
Chief Executive Officer
Island Outpost and Island Records

Born in London in 1937, Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica. Sent back to England at age 10 to finish his education, Blackwell returned to Jamaica in 1955. When he heard an ensemble led by blind pianist Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, Blackwell decided to record them and, borrowing the name from Alec Waugh's novel, Island in the Sun, Blackwell founded Island Records.

Island Records opened an office in Kingston, Jamaica, and a series of local hit singles soon followed. The growing Jamaican immigrant population in England also bought Island's discs and, finding that he was selling more records in England than in Jamaica, Blackwell moved Island's headquarters to London in 1962. In 1964, Blackwell produced "My Boy Lollipop" by a 15-year-old Jamaican girl named Millie, and it became the worldwide hit that launched Island's global fortunes, selling more than 7 million copies.

But perhaps Blackwell's most lasting influence on modern popular music resulted from his Jamaican roots and familiarity with the Caribbean musical heritage. Island Records introduced the world at large to Bob Marley and reggae music.

Artists such as Toots and the Maytals, Burning Spear, Third World and Black Uhuru added a multicultural component to pop music and also had lasting influence on recording artists worldwide. Blackwell was also the first major label executive to expose African musicians, including King Sunny Ade, to a wider audience.

Island and Blackwell also have a long history in film and film sound. Blackwell backed his first film project in 1971, The Harder They Come, starring singer Jimmy Cliff.

In the early '90s, Blackwell created Island Outpost, a hotel and resorts company. He is credited with having begun the redevelopment of Miami’s South Beach, having owned The Marlin, The Tides and The Kent, among others. Following, Blackwell turned his attention to his collection of legendary, landmark destinations in Jamaica. GoldenEye, Strawberry Hill, The Caves, Jakes and GeeJam are now all part of the Island Outpost collection. Each hotel is active in its community, participating in the local social, economic, environmental, and educational sectors. Island Outpost initiatives range from coral restoration to local sports programming, introducing the Grameen Bank to Jamaica and founding the first volunteer ambulance program on-island.

It’s been said that Jamaica’s most endangered natural resource is “brain drain,” the flight of talented individuals leaving the country to find economic opportunity elsewhere. This is why Blackwell actively recruits Jamaican ex-patriots for leadership positions.

Having brought the best of Jamaica to the world through music, Blackwell is now working to bring the best of the world to Jamaica through travel. More than a business, Island Outpost is Chris Blackwell’s way of reawakening the sophisticated and responsible traveler to the beauty and vibe of Jamaica today.

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