Jimmy Cliff, the ambassador of Jamaican music turns 80
James Chambers, better known by his stage name Jimmy Cliffis a Jamaican singer, multi-instrumentalist and actor born on July 30, 1944. Jimmy Cliff He based his career on two main genres, reggae and ska, producing a series of internationally successful songs such as “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “The Harder They Come” And “Reggae Night”.
Born in the Somerton district of St. James, Jamaica, Cliff began writing songs while still in elementary school. After moving to Kingston to attend Kingston Technical School, Cliff unsuccessfully searched for producers willing to collaborate with him, until he convinced Leslie Kong to work with him. His very first singles fail to make their mark and bring Cliff’s talent to light, until the release of “Hurricane Hattie” which soon became a record success that brought the Jamaican artist to prominence. In 1964 Jimmy was chosen as Jamaica’s representative for the World’s Fair where he was noticed by Island Records, a British record label, who recruited him to their roster.
1967 is the year of the release of his first album, “Hard Road to Travel”in 1969 he composed “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”a song that climbs the English charts followed by the pacifist anthem “Vietnam”that the great Bob Dylan he considers it the best protest song he has ever heard.
Jimmy Cliff During his career he has worked with numerous record labels such as Trojan, Island, EMI, Columbia and CBS. In 2010 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in addition, he is also the only living musician to hold the prestigious Order of Merit which is the highest recognition awarded by the Jamaican government to people in the arts and sciences. On his eightieth birthday, we celebrate the Jamaican talent by proposing some of his most famous songs (they are not in order of beauty but simply in chronological order).
“Hurricane Hattie” (1962)
“Vietnam” (1968)
“Many Rivers to Cross” (1969)
“Wonderful World, Beautiful People” (1969)
“You Can Get It If You Really Want” (1970)
“The Harder They Come” (1972)
“Treat the Youths Right” (1978)
“Sunshine in the Music” (1983)
“Reggae Night” (1983)
“I Can See Clearly Now” (1993)
“Human Touch” (2021)