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Home , Chris Blackwell, Could You Be Loved, Funky Kingston, Goldeneye (estate), GoldenEye (soundtrack), Ian Fleming

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hris Blackwell is late. This is not a problem. For two reasons. One is the view. Ahead of me, Low Cay Beach fans out, its arc of gold bejewelled by Cnine villas. To the left, the sea rolls in almost politely, as if loath to disturb such a calm picture. For this is , the oasis at on the north coast of where wrote the novels; where stars and travellers have cooled their heels since it was turned into a luxury resort. I pour another cup of coffee and listen to the bumping out of the speakers in Bizot Bar, from where the cafetiere arrived, behind me. The time is irrelevant. The second reason for my non-clock- watching is simple. I’ve been warned that Blackwell – music pioneer, record-label impresario, owner of GoldenEye – will be sleeping in. The afternoon before, I receive an email from one of his team. He will be, it says, dashing to the capital Kingston – a 60-mile, two-hour drive south – to watch the young, fast-rising Jamaican reggae artist play a gig. “He’s not on stage until 11, which will mean midnight, so we’ll be back early hours,” the Thanks to (BELOW), missive reads cheerfully. “Rock ‘n’ Reggae!” GoldenEye (LEFT and ABOVE), Ian No one should be begrudged a lie-in after Fleming’s stunning retreat in lush a loud night. Not a teenager, not a partygoing Jamaica, has a new life 20-something. And, definitely, not an octogenarian. Chris Blackwell is 80 years old. When he appears, he looks neither tired, nor his age. His outfit (a long-sleeved denim shirt over a T-shirt; a cap pulled down low) betrays only a lifetime spent in the – long enough, certainly, for this Westminster- born to have developed a belief that this warm day might be a little chilly. He talks like a far younger man – apologising for his pre-arranged tardiness, ordering a coffee, then enthusing about the 25-year-old he has just witnessed – with whom he has signed a publishing deal. “Chronixx is amazing,” he grins. “It’s always exciting to see someone emerge. He’s big in Asia now. Reggae was never big in Asia, apart from Japan – now he’s taking it there. It happens so quickly now.” Blackwell’s exuberance is understandable. peak under his stewardship in the Eighties when but no more than that. “Music has changed,” Fleming carved fiction’s most famous spy and For 40 years, he was the spiritual guardian of were added to the roster, it found its soul he sighs. “It’s not something you can do now forged a hotspot for sun-and-sea breaks – is , the label he founded in Jamaica Want to holiday in the Seventies, signing and showcasing the unless you’re in London, New York, Los Angeles missing the point. Fleming set up GoldenEye in 1959, and owned until 1989, when he sold it major players of Jamaica’s reggae scene – such or Paris. It’s not a place for an 80-year-old.” for just this sort of escapism, and did so in close to PolyGram (he would stay on as CEO until as , and Bob and Instead, he devotes himself to GoldenEye, connection to Blackwell, whose mother Blanche 1997, when he retired from the music industry). the Wailers. It is feasible to suggest that, without which he bought in 1976 and has run as his main was part of the Lindo family, which accrued He was 22 when he launched his endeavour, at Ian Fleming’s Blackwell, Marley would not have become the project since 1997 – transforming it into one of large reserves of land in the sugar era – including and would base it not on business experience, generational icon he still is, 37 years after his the planet’s most chic retreats. It has become around Oracabessa. She was Fleming’s muse, but on a love of Jamaica, its people and music death. Blackwell even produced some of the a relaxed playground, 49 huts and cottages a regular visitor to GoldenEye to swim in soft – engendered by spending his teenage years Wailers’ records. dotted across 52 acres of verdant Jamaican tides. When, in 1976 – 12 years after Fleming’s on the island (he moved across with his mother When Blackwell talks about this – he is not landscape. He has plans for further expansions death – it was on the market, she asked her son after his parents’ divorce in 1949). This start-up Jamaica home? a man prone to reminiscence – it as if he is in the next two years. to buy it for her. would blossom into a creative force. The man who signed is turning GoldenEye discussing a dream. Music is his past; the deal Anyone who thinks this is sacrilege – that The tale of how Blackwell acquired Although Island would reach its commercial into a chic retreat, writes Chris Leadbeater with Chronixx a slight return to a true romance, Blackwell has taken the sanctuary where Ian GoldenEye is another reminder of his pivotal 50 51 52 point, Ihadthecash...” asked ifthere was away outofthedeal.By that didn’t like it,thoughtitwas too poshfor him.He he cameupfor thefirst time. He’d never seenit, agreed. Butjust before thesalewent through, let my mumswim there, assheoften had?He [Marley] that hebuyit.Andcould hemaybe to purchase it,” hesays. “SoIsuggested to Bob the liquidcapitalwhenmy motherwanted me place inJamaicanmusichistory. “Ididn’thave surf. ‘People make aplace,’ says Blackwell runningtothe ofchildren delighted screams At GoldenEye, ishappy there inthe noise , black-and-white images too of photos oftheauthorinconversation with Bond legacy –afew copies ofFleming’s books, reception pays understated respect to the discreet. Averanda room just beyond the tend to beits guests. Everything issubtle, privacy ofthe celebrities andhigh-flierswho concealed in agrove that safeguards the there, andavailable asaccommodation – RIGHT) almost bought for himself a place that BobMarley (BELOW several Bondbooks at GoldenEye, Ian Fleming (ABOVE) penned Fleming’s vision lingers. His house is still Fleming’s visionlingers.Hishouseisstill

B GoldenEye onlywishesto cater to agildedelite. screams ofchildren running to thesurf, that here – andcertainly nohint, in thedelighted cottages aimedat families. There ishappy noise is themore affordable partoftheresort, its26 other sideofBizot Bar, where Button Beach are precious.” This sentimentfindsform onthe is awaste oftime,” hesays. “Butsomehotels “Some peoplesay ahotel ofunder 200rooms resort. Buthehasnoambitionsfor enormity. chalets onunusedlandwest ofthecurrent didn’t know what itwas. highway. You would drive past thegate if you entrance isdiscretion itself, unmarked onthe Blanche splashingontheshore. Even the resort can play – and a tranche of new can play –andatranche ofnew performance space where bands restrained. Heintends to build a lackwell’s plansare noless Momentarily, helookstheEnglishman abroad, “well, Bob would have been73 thisyear”. answering aquestion onMarley withawistful, he soundshisage, complaining ofacataract; at aseating area onthewater. For aminute, lagoon that dissects the property. We stop here, GoldenEye, inhisown huttucked onto the affectionately, as“MrB”. has hadadizzyspell.The staff address him party went; inquiringafter anotherguest, who group, staying for a40thbirthday, how their time.” Hehaltsregularly to chat –askingone he laughs.“Butyou can’thave Marley allthe repeat. “Obviously, we have to have BobMarley,” a Marley albumthat hasbeenspinningon instructing theservers at Bizot Barto change be loose. Heisnotinthrall to hisachievements, to lookat oneoftheplayers, whichseemsto with apractised hand)heasksastaff member play agameoftablefootball (hewins10-five, He pausesto address minordetails.When we wanders theproperty canbeafaltering affair. adds. “People make aplace.” “We want peopleofallageshere,” Blackwell He spends six months of the year at He spendssixmonthsoftheyear at Holding aconversation withhimashe

PHOTOS BY ALAMY/GETTY WORDS BY THE TELEGRAPH GROUP LONDON LTD, 2018 The Harder They crime thrillerThe Harder They distribution, including theJamaican Island alsodabbled infilm They Come (1972) :The Harder existence. most unmistakable guitarriffsin Fire AndWater boasts oneofthe such asFree, whosehitsingle from result inthesigningofrock acts Island’s profile. This would later Britain in1962to tryto boost Blackwell brieflyrelocated to Free: All RightNow (1970) the sameyear, by thesong’s writer. original reggae form –released in 1965 cover, butisat itspurest inits Davis Group’s (anotherIslandact) be madefamous by theSpencer scene. Jamaica’s then-unpublicisedmusic Island beganasalabelfor On Running (1965) Jackie Edwards: Keep Chris Blackwell ranIslandfrom 1959to1989. Inthattime,theseclassicswere released... holiday playlist:Your Island Records’ greatest hits We gotwo milesuphill,to oneofhisfavourite inclusives that excludes localJamaicans.” government. What we don’twant isaraft ofall- the change. I’mtalkingto people inthe when Columbus landed.It’s aboutmanaging untouched,” Blackwell says. “It’s almost asitwas alter thearea. “This coastline ispractically transfer from Montego Bay. Butitwillalso more convenient optionthanthethree-hour be aboonto GoldenEye’s guests, providing a flights from theUSeast coast in2019. This will been modernised,andwillbeginwelcoming Fleming Airport.What was abasicairstrip has Pot, Lisaat “seaside fishshack”Dor’s. run them,onfirst-name terms –Deidre at Sugar room, listing nearby restaurants, andthosewho not just adestination.” understand that where you are isacommunity, balance sheet–butit’s importantto getout,to guests to seepeopleandplaces. It’s badfor our and dinner, never leave. We encourage our Jamaica, goto theirhotel, eat breakfast, lunch from all-inclusivity,” heargues. “People come to thoughts onitseconomy. “We needto getaway live well here –sohealthily.” in theworld isJamaican–fruitaswell. You can remarks. “Ithassomuchvariety. The best coffee Caribbean snapsbackin.“Jamaica isspecial,” he liquid stream into thechinacups.Butthen carefully pouringtea from apot, lettingthe It iseasy to grasp why heissoprotective. He isworried, too, abouttheadjacent Ian This attitude isborneoutby abookletinmy His affection for thecountry shinesinhis would Keep onRunningwould

reggae to a global audience. reggae to aglobalaudience. track (sung helpedbring by Cliff), soundtrack ,andits title of itsleadJimmy Cliff, whilethe Come. The movie madeastar Marley touchstone. fans. Sixth track Stir ItUpremains a introduced thebandto overseas was produced by Blackwell. It album released onthe label, Catch aFire, thefirst Wailers of theIslandRecords roster. Marley would become thebedrock Stir ItUp(1973) Bob Marley andtheWailers: first Islandalbum. – asalute to thecapital–was their , withitstitletrack on their1968singleDotheReggay. “Toots” Hibbertandhismerrymen “reggae” was coined by Frederick Legend hasitthat theword Funky Kingston (1972) Toots andtheMaytals: the east. Blackwell indicates theAnglicanchurch by hisrecord player. Coward’s booksstill onhisdesk,LPsstacked a seriesofruts.For now, Firefly isinlimbo, state oftheroad up, whichisbarely more than GoldenEye guests –butisprecluded by the and iskeen to useitto host events for of sky andocean. he admires from eternity isincredible, asweep it that he’s still here, buriedinthelawn. The vista of BlancheLindo’s pals.The playwright so loved Caribbean residence ofNoelCoward –another places. Onthepeak,Firefly was once the an integral part ofits present GoldenEye, literary history is Behind thegate at A similar stasis cloaks Port Maria, a village to A similarstasis cloaksPort Maria,avillageto Blackwell hasaleaseontheproperty,

are) firmlyJamaican. With itsfunky Eighties, buther roots were (and Bond filmstardom inthemid- Jones would riseto catwalk and To The Bumper(1981) : Pull Up within ayear. went top 10. Marley was dead made theUKtop five –thealbum propelled by a rhythmic guitarline, a superstar. Itscatchiest track, Blackwell –arrived, Marley was Uprising –againproduced by By thetimeWailers’ 1980 LP Could You BeLoved (1980) Bob Marley andtheWailers: Eno’s ethereal keyboards. for anunsettlinglyricandBrian line-up) spinsonBryan Ferry’s gift Pleasure (thelast withtheoriginal Roxy MusicalbumFor Your This darknumberfrom thesecond Home AHeartache (1973) :InEvery Dream

a finefeeling.” and enjoying themselves. It’s thesamefeeling – says. “It’s thesameseeingpeoplecome here, track anditbecomes ahit,that’s fireworks,” he music industry. Hesmiles.“When you work ona relishes thehotel business asmuchhedidthe across theBlueMountainsindistance, ifhe the bay. Iaskhim,aswe watch thelightfade 19th-century Britishcannonsthat still monitor out –soBlackwell shows meinstead therusted the semi-tumbled(yet habitable) structure. Heis He isseekingaRastafarian friend,wholives in colonial era, builtin1759, now lost inthetree line. directs thecarto Fort Haldane, arelic ofthe in whosegraves several ofhisancestors lie, then worldwide smash. worldwide smash. 1981 albumNightclubbing -was a UpToPull The Bumper-from her bass riffandovertly sexual lyrics, classic oftheera. ’80s progressed. This single was a pop’s growing slickness asthe music, itdidnotstay alooffrom For allIsland’s originsinJamaican To Love (1986) Robert Palmer: Addicted their greatest track. Unforgettable Fire –isstill arguably their underrated 1984albumThe tribute to MartinLutherKing–from Joshua Tree , butthischest-beating more records with1987’s The The Irishmegastars would sell Of Love) (1984) U2: Pride (InThe Name visitjamaica.com about £320anight. Rooms at GoldenEye start at TRAVEL

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