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Arnie Weissman
Autobiographies fall into one of three categories: interesting, boring, or completely unreadable. Authors are shaping their traditions whether they know it or not, but if this is their primary goal, it might fall into one of the last two categories.
I recently read two travel-related biographies that qualify as fascinating: “The Islander, My Life in Music and Beyond,” by Chris Blackwell with Paul Morley (Gallery Books, 2022), and “Way Out There, Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker,” by J. Robert Harris ( Mountaineers Books, 2017). In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that I know both men, and that knowing them brought a level of trepidation to sitting down with the books. I have read books written by people I know before; They were disappointing to such an extent that it changed my entire perception of them.
“The Island, My Life in Music and Beyond,” by Chris Blackwell with Paul Morley, and “Way Out There, Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker,” by J. Robert Harris. Photo credit: courtesy of Gallery Books and Mountaineers Books
Neither of them was like that. What makes them both compelling is that they each go far beyond what defines their everyday lives and achievements, and spend a lot of time recreating the outside influences that shape who they are. Blackwell doesn’t just use Jamaica as a backdrop of his own formative years, but actually shows the 360-degree environment he created. Harris’s understanding of the places he passes through is very much tied to the places themselves, which he describes in a fascinating way.
Providing this context makes these books more than just autographs or travelogues. Blackwell takes care not only to reconstruct the Jamaica where he grew up, but also to show the popular culture scene of the 60s in London and the lesser known but highly influential people he met along the way. I had no idea of the vistas, people and attractions Harris would encounter, as they have an equally fascinating, and sometimes obscure, historical and geological background.
As for “The Islander,” I should mention from the outset that, although Blackwell was perhaps more responsible than any other individual for the revitalization of Miami’s South Beach and subsequently building a unique collection of accommodations in Jamaica, the book is more than 90 percent. About his music career. It has dedicated only one chapter to guests by developing a brand of rum and other unique services.
But the book will engage anyone curious about travel and music. Blackwell’s vision for hotels was shaped by his Jamaican upbringing and Island Records experiences, and he established himself as an observant world traveler.
As for his personal life, he is discreet and leaves only a few hints: except for his last wife, Mary Vinson, the reader knows about his previous marriages only after one time with ex-wives. . This is not Keith Richards’ “Life” (2010, Little, Brown & Company).
But overall, his written narrative voice perfectly reflects his authentic storytelling. If my experience of reading “The Island” is typical, one of the users in the publication would be Spotify: his knowledge of music is so deep and his descriptions of musicians so clear that I would constantly look at the songs and artists he focuses on.
In the year JRH Marketing, the oldest African American-owned research and consulting firm, started in the mid-1970s as a solo traveler who travels without a support group and has completed more than 40 two-week treks in remote regions. Although lonely, he is not completely alone in nature, and he describes the wildlife he encounters as well as the travelers he meets along the way and the pioneers who explored the areas before him. He gave due credit and devoted one chapter to “Kindness to Strangers.”
Although he normally travels alone, an occasional hiking neighbor convinces him to consider starting a wilderness guide business. The idea went so far as to create a logo, stationary, business cards and brochures, and they became licensed guides, but skeptical of the idea, Harris wrote, “Thankfully, we didn’t have to take anyone into the backcountry.”
Wildlife also gets its due. One chapter, “Alone and Afraid,” recounts his journey above the Arctic Circle to polar bear country.
Like Blackwell, Harris weaves his childhood experiences into his narrative: growing up in public housing and, crucially, becoming a Boy Scout.
“Way Out There” begs for a series — it covers less than a quarter of his travels, and Harris tells me he has extensive journals chronicling his travels.
I guess it’s fair to wait for people to write their autobiographies, but it’s surprising that these people aren’t just reflections of their accomplishments. Rather, they are a summary of what you have accomplished. up to date.
Harris is 78 and still planning trips. Blackwell, 84, is the director of “Get Up Stand Up!”, a musical about the life of Bob Marley that opened in London last year. It helped. He writes: “I always said I’d live to be 94… Now I’m 84, 94 seems a little closer… I don’t want to be greedy, but my mother lived to be 104.” ”
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