Jamaica 
Sech and Darell nominated for New Artist of The Year at the Latin American Music Awards
7 years ago
Jimmy Cliff is a legendary reggae musician and actor, recognized globally for his contributions to music and film. He is renowned for his dynamic stage presence and his role in popularizing reggae on an international scale.
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff signed with ICM Partners for representation across all areas, with an arrangement that includes marketing the 'The Harder They Come' sequel.
Legendary reggae singer-songwriter Jimmy Cliff signed with ICM Partners for representation across all areas. At ICM Partners, Cliff is represented for music by teams led by Ron Kaplan for North and South America and Ed Sellers & Ashley Marchi.
The track "Hurricane Hattie" became a local hit and marked the beginning of Cliff's partnership with Kong, who would later produce many of his iconic songs.
James Chambers, known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, was born on July 30, 1944, in St. James, Colony of Jamaica. He began his musical journey in primary school, writing songs and actively seeking opportunities to record his music. At the age of 14, he moved to Kingston and adopted the stage name Jimmy Cliff. His career started gaining momentum when his single “Hurricane Hattie” became a local hit when he was 17. This song was produced by Leslie Kong, an association that continued until Kong’s death in 1971. Cliff had subsequent local successes with singles such as “King of Kings,” “Dearest Beverley,” “Miss Jamaica,” and “Pride and Passion.” In 1964, he represented Jamaica at the World’s Fair in New York and participated in the program “This is Ska!” alongside other notable Jamaican artists.
Cliff later signed with Island Records and relocated to the United Kingdom. His international debut album, ‘Hard Road to Travel,’ released in 1967, received positive reviews and featured “Waterfall,” which became a hit in Brazil and won the International Song Festival. Following this, he released internationally popular songs like “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” in 1969 and “Vietnam” in 1970. In 1972, Cliff starred as Ivanhoe ‘Ivan’ Martin in the film ‘The Harder They Come,’ which significantly contributed to reggae’s global popularity. The film’s soundtrack, featuring classics such as “Many Rivers to Cross” and the title track, achieved international success. His recording of “You Can Get It If You Really Want” was later used as a campaign anthem by the Sandinista National Liberation Front in Nicaragua’s 1990 election.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Cliff continued to record and tour. His 1985 album, ‘Cliff Hanger,’ earned a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. He also collaborated with artists like Kool & the Gang and contributed to the “Sun City” protest song with Artists United Against Apartheid. In 1986, he provided backing vocals for The Rolling Stones’ album ‘Dirty Work’ and appeared in the comedy ‘Club Paradise.’ A turning point in his broader mainstream popularity in the U.S. came in 1993 with his cover of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” for the ‘Cool Runnings’ film soundtrack. In 2010, Jimmy Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His album ‘Rebirth’ (2012), produced with Tim Armstrong, also won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, further solidifying his enduring legacy in music.
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