Jimmy Cliff

At 14 James Chambers moved to Kingston Jamaica, determined to be a superstar, choosing the surname Cliff was supposed to be symbolic of the heights he would reach as an artist.

After a slow start which saw him release two unsuccessful chart singles.  He was later spotted by Derrick Morgan, who introduced him to producer Leslie Kong.  His first release under the guidance of this new producer was an instant hit.  The partnership between the two remained successful until the death of Kong.  With the help of Island records the pair had become an integral part of the Ska scene in Jamaica and in Britain. 

In 1964 Island records decided to shift away from the Jamaican roots scene and instead focus on Rock music.  With persuasion from the head of Island records Jimmy relocated to Britain and began writing songs to fit in with the labels change of style.

In 1968, after releasing his debut album Hard Road to Travel, he won the International Song Festival with "Waterfall," a song which was a smash hit in Brazil.  To capitalize on his South American fan base he moved to Brazil.

Finally the following year, "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" gave him the international breakthrough he wanted.  The song was an instant hit reaching number six on the British charts, and breaking into the Top 25 in the States.   Unsurprisingly his anti-war follow-up, "Vietnam," was less popular. 

Unexpectedly his producer died of a heart attack in August, 1971.  Before he died Kong and the Jamaican had worked with Cliff on the soundtrack for to the movie ‘The Harder They Come.’   The 1973 film featured Cliff as the lead character "The Harder They Come," a semiautobiographical story of a young musician's hardships that force him to turn to a life of crime.  It was the release of this film that helped to bring reggae music to the masses.

In 1992 the soundtrack American entertainment channel E named it the number one soundtrack of all time.  Today the film is still regarded as one of the great underground classics and the studio behind the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, is set to produce a hip-hop-flavoured remake of ‘The Harder They Come,’ directed by Stephen Williams, due out in 2005. 

Unfortunately the arrival of Bob Marley meant there was little interest from Island records.  He then signed to Reprise in the U.S and Emi in the U.K.  There was little success with either of these moves.  In 1975 to coincide with the American release of ‘The harder they come,’ along with the Rolling Stones producer Jimmy released a ‘Live in Concert’ album.  After leaving Reprise the singer joined Columbia records.  His subsequent release in 1983 received a Grammy nomination.  He eventually received a Grammy for ‘Cliff Hanger’ its 1985 follow up. 

Since then the artist has released more singles and albums including a song for the movie ‘Cool Runnings’  

Hard Road to Travel 1968 Island records
The Harder They Come 1973 Island records
Unlimited 1973 Reprise
Struggling Man 1974 Reprise
Live In Concert 1975 Reprise
Power and the Glory 1983 Columbia
Cliff hanger 1985 Columbia Records
Hang Fire 1989 Columbia Records
Many Rivers to Cross 2003 Trojan
Black Magic 2004 Artemis

Photo By Dave Kent