James 'jimmy cliff' Chambers, OM: for arts & culture continues to bring Jamaica to the world

 Jimmy Cliff helped bring reggae to the world in 1972 when the soundtrack to the film in which he starred, The Harder They Come, hit Europe and The United States with a vengeance.

More than 40 years later, Cliff is at it again.

Last year, he earned his second Grammy nod for his effort on the album Rebirth, and went on in the early part of the year to cop a most enviable achievement.

Again putting Jamaican culture into the forefront of the world's collective thought process, Cliff was the headline act in a Volkswagen advertising campaign, which included bagging a spot on the most-sought-after advertising slot in the world - the half-time at the Superbowl. An estimated 108.4 million people witnessed Cliff in his element. At 66 years old, his voice was as smooth as it was on his massive 1969 single, Wonderful World, Beautiful People.

Of the Grammy win, Cliff said in an article with The Gleaner's Barbara Ellington that this was not the end of the road for him.

"It's another milestone towards my real goal; I will continue to write better songs and improve my performance, but it's good to be recognised for my work," he said.

Now The Gleaner will join in helping to recognise that work, as he will receive the 2013 Gleaner Honour Award for Arts and Culture.

As an artiste who predated Bob Marley and continues to perform and record today, much of Cliff's history is well known.

Titles like Wonderful World, Beautiful People; The Harder They Come; Sitting in Limbo; You Can Get It If You Really Want, and Many Rivers to Cross are almost household, with even the very young knowing what they represent.

But what many do not know about Cliff, is how much of a defender of the rights of those who can't stand up for themselves he is. Many don't know about the revolutionary spirit that beats through many of his lesser-known works - lesser known in his home country, anyway.

Many would not be familiar with the title Vietnam, though it is a song that Bob Dylan, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, was alleged to have called the "greatest protest song ever written".

anti-apartheid track

Still, many would not have been familiar with the title Sun City, a track on which Cliff contributed in a bid to lend voice to the fight against apartheid South Africa.

Even in accepting the importance of winning a Grammy, Cliff was fighting to make Jamaica more prominent in world culture.

"It would have been better if I were collecting it onstage," Cliff had said, pointing out the age-old grouse where the reggae category is not part of the live show at The Grammys.

Cliff is back to his revolutionary best on Rebirth, tracks like his acoustic take on Clash's Guns of Brixton leading the way.

In some ways, Rebirth is just that, pointing to a return to Cliff's roots. That return to his roots took on a life of its own, as well, with Cliff deciding he would come back to Jamaica at the beginning of 2013, take a look at The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and give musicians there a chance to see the world.

A lucky band from the institution was able to go on tour with Cliff to Asia where the legendary artiste, the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit, was promoting Rebirth.

But who is Jimmy Cliff, the man who made headlines in 2013 after nearly half a century of producing great music and being a great ambassador for Jamaican culture?

How many know that it was the efforts of Jimmy Cliff that made it possible for reggae artistes to fit into that pop-rock sort of mould that would make the revolutionary lyrics of Bob Marley palatable to the world?

How many know that Cliff was an actor before he was ever a musician? How many know that The Harder They Come, though produced more than 40 years ago, was done when Cliff was already a major player on the international scene?

getting to know the man

How many people know what else Jimmy has done for the arts in Jamaica? How many people know Jimmy?

Cliff comes from that era of music when Jamaica was not yet a known global entity. Jamaica did not have a name around the world in terms of producing music or exporting any sort of culture, outside of a penchant for track and field. The country did have world-class musicians like The Skatalites and the many who came through the doors of Alpha Boys' School. Names like Don Drummond and Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo and Lloyd Brevett were big names by the time Cliff came to the fore, but he was to surpass them all.

His ability to cross over, producing songs of high quality that were not just reggae, means much, so much that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010.

Obviously, he didn't mean to stop there and he won't be stopping here (earning his second Grammy 28 years after his first) either because, as he says in The Harder They Come, "As sure as the sun will shine, I'm gonna get my share of what's mine."

Did you know?

Jimmy Cliff has produced more than 30 albums.

Jimmy Cliff was one of the inaugural members of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artistes.

Jimmy Cliff's You Can Get It If You Really Want was used in political rallying cries in two countries - England and Nicaragua.

Jimmy Cliff's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010 was announced by Wyclef Jean.

Jimmy Cliff also appeared as the Jamaican musician and revolutionary Ernest Reed, in the 1986 comedy Club Paradise, co-starring with Robin Williams and Peter O'Toole.

How many know that it was the efforts of Jimmy Cliff that made it possible for reggae artistes to fit into that pop-rock sort of mould that would make the revolutionary lyrics of Bob Marley palatable to the world?

How many know that Cliff was an actor before he was ever a musician? How many know that The Harder They Come, though produced more than 40 years ago, was done when Cliff was already a major player on the international scene?

How many people know what else Jimmy has done for the arts in Jamaica? How many people know Jimmy?

Cliff comes from that era of music when Jamaica was not yet a known global entity. Jamaica did not have a name around the world in terms of producing music or exporting any sort of culture, outside of a penchant for track and field. The country did have world-class musicians like The Skatalites and the many who came through the doors of Alpha Boys' School. Names like Don Drummond and Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo and Lloyd Brevett were big names by the time Cliff came to the fore, but he was to surpass them all.

His ability to crossover, producing songs of high quality that were not just reggae, means much, so much that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010.

Obviously, he didn't mean to stop there and he won't be stopping here [earning his second Grammy 28 years after his first] either because, as he says in The Harder They Come, "As sure as the sun will shine, I'm gonna get my share of what's mine."