Chris Blackwell

Founder Island Records

Only someone with Chris Blackwell's unique background could have founded a company as innovative as Island Records. Although it took several years before Island made the charts ...read more

Only someone with Chris Blackwell's unique background could have founded a company as innovative as Island Records. Although it took several years before Island made the charts, yet in time it became the finest small record company in the world, with an artist roster the envy of every major record company. Now, after nearly 40 years in the entertainment business, Blackwell has created Palm Pictures as an entertainment company with a particular focus on DVD, a format that perfectly incorporates his passion for music and film. Born just prior to World War II in London, Blackwell's father was Irish while his mother came from a prominent Jamaican family of successful traders in rum, sugar, coconuts and cattle. He spent the first 10 years of his life on the island, finished his education in England and returned to Jamaica in 1955. His first job was as aide-de-camp to the Governor of Jamaica, followed by a stint selling real estate. But it was the six months Blackwell spent in America in 1959, hanging out in the New York jazz circuit, which led him to a life in music.

Register for EG 2020.

30 April - 2 May 2020

Our team has been working hard behind the scenes to bring you a superb program for EG2020. However, in light of growing and legitimate concerns regarding the rapid spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) which have gutted international events of all sizes, we have made the difficult decision to put EG on hiatus until it is once again deemed safe.


We know how much each of you look forward to EG and we were looking forward to seeing old friends, and welcoming many new ones, but we do need to prioritize the health and safety of our attendees, presenters, and partners, especially those traveling from afar.

We will be in touch in due course with future plans.