News Beat
How Jimmy Cliff rose from grinding poverty to become reggae legend who blazed a trail for Bob Marley
REGGAE legend Jimmy Cliff lived by the words of one of his most famous songs: You Can Get It If You Really Want.
The Jamaican’s feelgood anthems I Can See Clearly Now, Wonderful World, Beautiful People and The Harder They Come were global hits — blazing a trail for Bob Marley.
Tributes to the reggae pioneer poured in yesterday after he died, aged 81, from pneumonia after a seizure.
An Instagram message from his children, Lilty and Aken, and wife Latifa read: “To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career.”
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness hailed Jimmy as a “true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world”.
James Chambers was born on July 30, 1944, during a hurricane which blew away the family home in Somerton, Jamaica.
The eighth of nine children brought up in grinding poverty by their father, he moved to the island’s capital aged 12 to make it as a singer, changing his name to Jimmy Cliff.
At 14, he had his first success, Hurricane Hattie, which topped the Jamaican charts. In 1965, Island Records boss Chris Blackwell took him to London.
When his British landlady first met him she ordered Jimmy to leave his bedsit.
He said: “That was until she saw me dancing behind Nina Simone on Ready Steady Go.
“Most of what I experienced in England was because of ignorance not prejudice.”
Jimmy found fame with Wonderful World, Beautiful People, followed by anti-war anthem Vietnam, described by Bob Dylan as “the greatest protest song ever”.
In 1972, Jimmy starred in the hard-hitting crime film, The Harder They Come
The soundtrack blasted reggae onto the world stage.
Over a near 70-year career Jimmy released 33 albums, won two Grammys and joined Bob Marley as the only other Jamaican in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Stars from the Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello to Annie Lennox and Paul Simon sought him out for collaborations.
Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Cher and New Order are among the stars to record covers of his songs.
‘PILLAR OF MUSIC’
But despite all his success Jimmy said recently: “I still haven’t written my best song.
“If my music can uplift someone to make them want to have a better life and not give up, that is a big success for me.”
Last night Ali Campbell of UB40 wrote: “Absolutely heartbroken to hear about the passing of a reggae forefather Jimmy Cliff.
“A true foundation, a pillar of our music, and one of the first to carry reggae out into the world. Jimmy wasn’t just a legend, he was a light.”
And Yusuf Cat Stevens, whose song Wild World was covered by Jimmy, said: “His songs always had some message of peace — may he find it now and forever.”
