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The Skatalites

In Jamaica throughout the early half of the 1960's Ska prevailed and of all the groups to make their mark during this time, none proved more popular or influential than the legendary Skatalites.

Following their creation in the summer of ’64, this powerhouse instrumental combo, featuring the cream of...

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Jimmy Cliff To Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Jimmy Cliff To Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of FameIt has been announced that Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff is listed as being among this year’s inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Selected by more than 500 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, the honour, which is only open to those who have been recording for 25 years or more, is regarded as being among the highest accolades in the music industry.

Born and raised in Somerton, in the parish of St. Catherine, he moved with his family to Kingston in 1960, aged twelve and soon after he made his recording debut with ‘Daisy Got Me Crazy’ for local sound-system operator-turned-producer, Count Boysie. The record failed to make an impression and it was to be another six months before he cut his next disc, ‘I’m Sorry’ for another local nascent music maker, Sir Cavalier. Unfortunately the record fared no better, but it was third time lucky for the young singer-songwriter after he joined Leslie Kong’s roster at Beverley’s Records, late in 1961. The topical ‘Hurricane Hattie’ became a major hit locally early in ’62 and over the next year or so he enjoyed further success with a number of impressive Ska titles, including ‘Miss Jamaica’, One Eyed Jacks’ and ‘King Of Kings’.

1965, at the behest of Island Record’s owner Chris Blackwell he relocated to London, spending the next few years perfecting his song-writing skill and live work. Four years later he returned to Jamaica to reunite with Kong, the subsequent sessions spawning a number of impressive tracks, including two major hits, ‘Wonderful World, Beautiful People’ and ‘Vietnam’, plus ‘Many Rivers To Cross’ and the US chart hit, ‘Come Into My Life’.

In 1971, the singer’s rendering of Cat Stevens’ ‘Wild World’ reached number eight in the UK and the following year, his mesmerising performance as the rebellious rude-boy, ‘Ivan’ in Perry Henzell’s cult motion picture, ‘The Harder They Come’ brought him worldwide acclaim.

A move to EMI Records followed, after which he recorded with varying success for Warner Brothers/Reprise and MCA, finally returning to the US R&B charts in 1982 with the title track of his LP, ‘Special’. Over the next couple of years he returned the American R&B national listings twice more, with ‘Reggae Night’ and ‘We All Are One’, while collaboration with Kool & The Gang resulted in the ‘Cliff Hanger’ album that in 1985 won him a prestigious Grammy for ‘Best Reggae Album’.

The following year Cliff played his second major motion picture role in ‘Club Paradise’, co-starring alongside US comedian, Robin Williams and after parting company at the close of the decade, he returned to the American Pop charts with ‘I Can See Clearly Now’, his biggest US hit to date, the single peaking at number 18 in 1993.

Since then, Jimmy Cliff has remained a powerful figure in world music. His popularity in Latin America and Africa is unequalled by any other living Jamaican performer, while more recent works, such as ‘Higher And Higher’, ‘Hakuna Matata’ (from ‘The Lion King’) and his second Grammy winning album, ‘Fantastic Plastic People’ from 2003, have served to remind the world at large that he is still very much a relevant force in world music.

His induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame is a reflection of just how highly he is regarded by those throughout the music industry. The ceremony is due to take place on March 15th at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.


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February 2010

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