Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff, born James Chambers on 30 July 1944 in Saint James, Jamaica, is a seminal figure in the evolution of reggae, ska, rocksteady, and soul music. From the moment he began penning lyrics in primary school, his talent was evident, and at age fourteen he moved to Kingston where he adopted the stage name Jimmy Cliff and started performing on local sound‑system stages. His breakthrough came at seventeen with the hit "Hurricane Hattie" under producer Leslie Kong, launching a string of successful Jamaican singles and a reputation as a dynamic live performer. In the late 1960s he signed with Island Records, releasing the acclaimed debut album Hard Road to Travel (1967) and a series of international hits such as "Waterfall", "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and the protest anthem "Vietnam", which Bob Dylan praised as the best protest song he’d ever heard. Cliff's 1972 starring role in The Harder They Come not only made him a film star but also introduced reggae to a global audience, with the soundtrack becoming a cultural milestone. Over subsequent decades he collaborated with icons like Kool & the Gang, The Rolling Stones, and Joe Strummer, earned a Grammy for Cliff Hanger (1985), and added to his legacy with notable songs like "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and a cover of "I Can See Clearly Now" for the Cool Runnings soundtrack. Recognised with Jamaica’s Order of Merit, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, and his later work, including the Grammy‑winning Rebirth (2011) and Refugees (2022), demonstrates his enduring creative vitality. Though briefly affiliated with Rastafari and later Islam, Cliff now describes himself as a universalist, focusing on science and humanity, and enjoys a family life with a wife, daughter Lilty, son Aken, and daughter Nabiyah Be, continuing to inspire generations of musicians and fans worldwide.