Island Records Founder: Bob Marley was a natural leader

In a recent episode of “Influencers with Andy Serwer”, Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell discussed his history with Bob Marley, the continued prevalence and strength of his music, and why they were never photographed together.

影片文字轉錄稿

ANDY SERWER: I want to ask you about another one of your big groups, which is Bob Marley. And we're, again, in his home country. Did you ever think that Bob Marley and the Wailers were going to be as big as they got? And why does it continue? Why does Bob Marley continue to be so popular today?

CHRIS BLACKWELL: Well, I think his songs are really great songs. They're not normal dance songs or songs just to dance to or-- you know. They're songs which have a real purpose to them. And he's got just a great, great sense, you know. He just had a really great sense of how to put together his songs and how to record them, really. He just-- he's a naturally-- he was gifted and a natural leader.

ANDY SERWER: You never wanted to be photographed with him particularly. Why is that?

CHRIS BLACKWELL: Why? Because when I met him, I just knew that he was somebody who was going to be really important. And I didn't want to be the kind of white manager type guy who was hanging around and claiming what the hell happened or something like that, you know? Because he didn't need that. He had it all himself. He knew what he wanted to do. And he knew how to get there.