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Jimmy Cliff

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jimmy Cliff was a Jamaican musician in ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul. He was born in 1944 as James Chambers in Saint James and wrote songs as early as primary school. At fourteen he went to Kingston, where he chose his stage name. He persuaded Leslie Kong to start a recording studio with him. In 1964 he represented Jamaica at the World's Fair in New York. He signed to Island Records and moved to the United Kingdom.

Music and breakthrough

His international debut album Hard Road to Travel appeared in 1967. Wonderful World, Beautiful People in 1969 and Vietnam in 1970 followed. In 1969 he wrote Many Rivers to Cross about his struggle with the music industry. With his version of Wild World by Cat Stevens he reached the British top ten. In 1972 he played the lead in The Harder They Come, the first major commercial film from Jamaica. The soundtrack album made reggae known worldwide. Later songs included You Can Get It If You Really Want, Reggae Night from 1983 and a cover of I Can See Clearly Now for the film Cool Runnings.

Influence

Cliff deliberately sought a broad audience, including a white one, through record contracts, covers of pop and rock and film music. He became one of the most celebrated musicians of Jamaica and received the Order of Merit, the country's highest honour. He died in 2025. His importance lies in the way he took reggae abroad, first as a singer and then as a film star.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Harder They Come and notice how the story of a young man seeking his chance in Kingston is sung, to a slow reggae rhythm, almost like a narration.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists