Certain artists bring a feeling of soulful upliftment and leave a mark on your musical heart - Jimmy Cliff is one; you sense a man smiling and embracing life. He’s navigated Jamaica’s musical evolution from the start, with 1962’s Hurricane Hattie, to the soundtrack that put him front and centre on a global stage in 1972. He’s continued to release beautiful music that speaks to our spiritual sides, and his legacy will live on for generations to come.
R.I.P. Jimmy. (1944-2025)
Jimmy Cliff was born James Chambers in 1944, growing up in rural Somerton before moving to Kingston as a teenager to chase the fast-rising ska scene. He was writing songs before most kids his age finished schoolwork, and at just fourteen, he walked into Beverley’s Records and caught the attention of producer Leslie Kong. That meeting changed everything. Kong recorded Cliff’s first breakout song, “Hurricane Hattie,” which turned the young singer into a local star and opened the door to the bustling world of Kingston studios, sound systems, and emerging talent.
By the mid-1960s, Cliff had outgrown the island and pushed his music into London, where his sound found a new audience. The turning point came in 1969 with “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” a UK Top 10 hit that introduced his voice and message to listeners far outside Jamaica. Songs like “Many Rivers to Cross” showed a different side of him - raw, vulnerable, and deeply soulful. Then came The Harder They Come in 1972. Cliff didn’t just star in the film; he carried its soundtrack with songs like “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and the title track, helping reggae explode onto the global stage.
Jimmy Cliff passed away on November 24, 2025, at age 81, leaving behind one of reggae’s most influential legacies. His catalogue stretches from ska and rocksteady roots to crossover hits decades later, including “Reggae Night” and his 1993 revival of “I Can See Clearly Now.” For a one-hour tribute mix, you’ve got a whole arc to work with, early Kingston youth, global breakthrough, soundtrack legend, and the unmistakable voice that helped carry reggae to the world.
PLAYLIST
Jimmy Cliff – Hurricane Hattie
Jimmy Cliff – King of Kings
Jimmy Cliff – I’ve Been Dead 400 Years
Jimmy Cliff – Struggling Man
Jimmy Cliff – You Can Get It If You Really Want
Jimmy Cliff – Fundamental Reggay
Jimmy Cliff – Wonderful World, Beautiful People – Single Version
Jimmy Cliff – Let Your Yeah Be Yeah
Jimmy Cliff – My Ancestors
Jimmy Cliff – I’m No Immigrant
Jimmy Cliff – Oh Jamaica
Jimmy Cliff – Sufferin’ in the Land
Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff – Stand Up and Fight Back
Jimmy Cliff – Treat the Youths Right
Jimmy Cliff – Sooner or Later
Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff – Bongo Man
