Jimmy Cliff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimmy Cliff
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Cliff performing in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Chambers |
| Born | 30 July 1944 St. James, Colony of Jamaica |
| Genres | Ska, rocksteady, reggae, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, actor |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | |
James Chambers, known as Jimmy Cliff, is a famous Jamaican musician, singer, and actor. He was born on July 30, 1944. Jimmy Cliff is known for his music styles like ska, rocksteady, reggae, and soul. He is the only living reggae musician to have received the Order of Merit, which is the highest award given by the Jamaican government for achievements in arts and sciences.
Many people know Jimmy Cliff for his popular songs such as "Many Rivers to Cross", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come", "Reggae Night", and "Hakuna Matata". He also sang popular cover songs like "Wild World" by Cat Stevens and "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash, which was featured in the movie Cool Runnings. Jimmy Cliff also acted in the movie The Harder They Come, which helped make reggae music popular around the world. In 2010, he was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a special place for legendary musicians.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Jimmy Cliff was born James Chambers on July 30, 1944, in Saint James, Jamaica. He started writing songs when he was still in primary school. He would listen to music from a neighbor's sound system. When he was 14, James moved to Kingston with his father. It was there that he decided to use the stage name Jimmy Cliff.
First Steps in Music
While still in school, Jimmy Cliff tried to get his songs recorded by many music producers, but it was tough. He also entered talent shows. One day, he convinced Leslie Kong, who owned a record store, to start a recording business with him. After two songs that didn't become popular, his career took off when "Hurricane Hattie" became a hit. Jimmy was only 17 years old at the time. He continued to work with Leslie Kong until Kong passed away in 1971.
Rising to Fame
After "Hurricane Hattie," Jimmy Cliff had more local hits like "King of Kings" and "Miss Jamaica." In 1964, he was chosen to represent Jamaica at the World's Fair in New York. He also appeared in a TV show called "This is Ska!" with other famous Jamaican artists.
Soon after, he signed with Island Records and moved to the United Kingdom. His first international album, Hard Road to Travel, came out in 1967. It got great reviews and included the song "Waterfall," which became a hit in Brazil. In 1969, he released "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and then "Vietnam" in 1970. Both songs were popular worldwide. Even Bob Dylan called "Vietnam" the best protest song he had ever heard.
The Harder They Come Film
In 1972, Jimmy Cliff starred as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin in the famous reggae movie, The Harder They Come. The film tells the story of a young man who moves to Kingston from the countryside, hoping to make it in the music business. When that doesn't work out, he gets involved in crime. The movie's soundtrack album was a huge success around the world. It helped introduce reggae music to a global audience for the very first time.
Exploring New Paths
After releasing several albums, Jimmy Cliff took a break and traveled to Africa. He explored different spiritual paths, including Islam, but later said he had a more "universal outlook" on life.
Music and Movies in the 1980s and 1990s
Jimmy Cliff quickly returned to music. He toured for several years and even recorded with the band Kool & the Gang. In 1984, he performed at the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands. Bruce Springsteen and his band started playing Jimmy Cliff's song "Trapped" during their concerts. This song became very well-known when it was included on the 1985 benefit album We Are the World.
His album Cliff Hanger (1985) won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. In 1985, Jimmy Cliff also helped sing on the song "Sun City". This was a protest song against apartheid, a system of racial separation in South Africa.
Cliff also sang backing vocals on The Rolling Stones' album Dirty Work in 1986. He appeared in the comedy movie Club Paradise with Robin Williams and sang several songs for its soundtrack. In 1990, he was in the movie Marked for Death. His song "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was even used as a campaign song in Nicaragua in 1990.
In 1993, Jimmy Cliff had a big hit with his version of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now". This song was on the soundtrack for the popular movie Cool Runnings. In 1995, he released the single "Hakuna Matata" with Lebo M, which was from The Lion King movie soundtrack.
Recent Years and Achievements
In 2001, Jimmy Cliff became one of the first judges for the Independent Music Awards, helping new artists. In 2002, he released the album Fantastic Plastic People, which included songs with famous artists like Joe Strummer, Annie Lennox, and Sting.
In 2003, the Jamaican government honored Jimmy Cliff with The Order of Merit. This award recognized his important contributions to Jamaican film and music. He is one of the few living artists to hold this special honor.
In 2007, Jimmy Cliff performed at the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup. Later that year, his song "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was used by a political party in the UK. Jimmy Cliff said he doesn't support any politicians, but he believes in what is right or wrong.
In 2009, he was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted on March 15, 2010, by musician Wyclef Jean.
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In 2011, Jimmy Cliff worked with producer Tim Armstrong on an album called Rebirth. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. Rolling Stone magazine even listed Rebirth as one of the top albums of 2012. In December 2012, he was named Artist of the Year by the Caribbean Journal. His most recent album, Refugees, was released in August 2022.
Personal Life
Jimmy Cliff is married and has a daughter named Lilty Cliff and a son named Aken Cliff. He is also the father of actress and singer Nabiyah Be. He describes his outlook on life as "universal" and believes in science.
Images for kids
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Cliff performing in 2012
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Jimmy Cliff performing in Bildein, Austria, 2012
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Jimmy Cliff performing at Raggamuffin Music Festival
