Chris Blackwell is named the music industry's most influential figure

The man who kicked off last year’s Hot Press Music Show, Chris Blackwell, has been honoured by UK trade bible Music Week as the most influential figure in the last 50 years of the British music industry.
As the founder and M.D. up until 1989 of Island Records, Blackwell was responsible for turning the likes of Bob Marley, U2, Jimmy Cliff, Traffic, Grace Jones, Roxy Music, Cat Stevens and the Cranberries into global superstars.
He had a knack too for unearthing such cult acts as Tom Waits and Nick Drake, and was one of the first mainstream industry figures to recognise the artistic and commercial value of rap.
He also happens to have Irish roots and be an absolute gent, so congratulations Chris!
You can find an extensive Chris Blackwell interview in the hotpress.com archive.