Pas de Deux with Chris Blackwell

Millie's Boy, "Lollipop"

Chris Blackwell is a dashing and charismatic creative genius, superior businessman, and has an incredible life story.  He discovered, published or managed some of the biggest acts to break out in music from the 60's to the 80's, most notably Bob Marley and U2, but also favorites Jethro Tull, Free, Traffic, King Crimson, ELP, Cat Stevens, Melissa Etheridge, and on and on.

Dapper Gent Chris Blackwell

When I met Chris, it was 2002 and we were dancing to the music of potential merger - he with Palm Pictures, and my colleagues and I with Artist Network Ventures.

Anyway, back in 1972 Chris had produced the soundtrack to "The Harder They Come" starring Jimmy Cliff and had made it a supreme international hit, and a major steppingstone in the popularization of reggae in North America.  Through my father I knew Ekweume Mike Thelwell, author of the 1980 adapted novel based on the earlier film.  But our connection to Chris here was made through Jimmy Cliff, who by now was on our label in London.

Marquee: Hendrix Ate Here

We first met in NYC for discussions about connecting Chris' Palm - and its movie, music and publishing businesses - with ANV.  We Art-Venturers were cultivating a small stable of UK-based musicians, developing television concepts, and renovating the storied Marquee nightclub venue in London.

We were also trying to develop a Napster-like service and, separately, a wildly weird installation module concept featuring 5.1 Surround Sound egg-chair listening stations for Barnes & Noble's college bookstore business... but I digress.

Talks lasted for a few rounds, and Palm was at the time involving itself with former colleagues of mine at National Geographic Society in Washington DC - connecting Palm's 'world beat' and 'indigenous' musics with NatGeo's various exoticisms.  Think "Koyanisqaatsi," Philip Glass' avant-masterpiece from Palm-predecessor Island.

Blackwell in his element, digging new music, 1982.

Ultimately, the only transaction that resulted from all this speed-dating was not between Palm and ANV, nor, really, between Palm and NGS, but rather between a junior executive of Palm placing himself into the NGS firmament... but I digress.

Anyway, on a sojourn to DC, Chris was to visit NGS and I was his envoy.  He and his entourage stayed at the new, trendy Hotel Rouge, where we sipped highballs in the dark at happy hour on Friday and then all went off together to the evening's film screening.

Kate Simon's Marley Portrait, Govinda

I asked Chris to entrust his Saturday morning to me and to trust my judgment.  Being of notoriously impeccable judgment himself - he did!  And he wasn't sorry.

My wife and I returned Saturday morning to schlepp Mr. Blackwell to the finest rock photography gallery in the US - my acquaintance Chris Murray's Govinda Gallery on 34th street, NW in Georgetown.  We enjoyed a fantastic exhibition rife with exquisite Dylan, Hendrix and other 60's/70's iconic imagery - some instantly recognizable, much deliciously unique and unforeseen.  Chris lingered and studied, immersed in the beauty of the prints and paying special attention to a set of b/w Rolling Stones images from 1964.

Coda:

Knowing Chris Blackwell and working with him, just a brief while, was greatly inspiring.  He's a decent, enthused and remarkable man with an incredible ear for talent.  And what's more, I learned something from him about keeping one's principles, even in the venal and cutthroat star-maker machinery of the business of music.  Although he'll do plenty fine without my well wishes, Chris is a super nice guy and I do wish him well in the resort biz - 

For old time's sake,

here's a beautiful video set to Bob Marley's "Waiting In Vain."