Press Releases REGGAE PIONEER JIMMY CLIFF PERFORMS AT REICHHOLD CENTER March 25, 2011
Reichhold Center for the Arts, season of legends, kicks into high gear with reggae ambassador, Jimmy Cliff. On Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 at 8 p.m. Cliff performs at the Reichhold Center for the Arts. Along with Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff is credited with playing a vital role in introducing reggae music into the international mainstream. With 28 albums recorded, Cliff has a legion of fans around the world. In 2010, Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Fame. Showing no signs of slowing down, in that same year, Cliff also released his 28th album, Existence. The album’s lyrics express today’s realities, such as starvation, global warming, and politics. When Jimmy Cliff hit the music scene in 1962, reggae music, as we know it today, was known as “Ska.” Ska, an uptempo upbeat rhythm, expressed the spirit of the Jamaican people when they became independent from Britian. Ska music was only recognized in Jamaica. As if Cliff had a crystal ball, Jimmy Cliff, born James Chambers, changed his surname to “Cliff” to describe the heights he would go. At that time he was only fourteen years old. At that same time, he recorded his first hit single “Hurricane Hattie,” which reached the number one position in Jamaica. After his hit single, “Hurricane Hattie,” Cliff’s career took off and he was well on his way to live up his new name. Shortly after, he unleashed a string of hit singles that included: “King of Kings,” “Miss Jamaica,” and “Pride and Passion.” Later, Cliff moved to London, and in 1968, at seventeen years old, he released his international debut album, Hard Road to Travel. He received outstanding reviews and his single “Waterfall” became a hit in Brazil and won the International Song Festival. The next year, his 2nd album, Wonderful World Beautiful People reached number six in Britain, and number 25 in the U.S. His version of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” was number eight in the U.K. Additionally, a cover of his “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” by Desmond Dekker, soared to number two on the British charts. Cliff’s contribution to the evolution of the reggae music was not noticed, however, until his prominent role in the critically acclaimed classic film, The Harder They Come, in 1972. His performance garnered him rave reviews and forever established his place at the forefront of the reggae movement. The soundtrack for the landmark film, The Harder They Come, featured several of Cliff’s best recordings: “Many Rivers to Cross,” “Sitting in Limbo,” “We All Are One,” “You Can Get it if You Really Want,” and “The Harder They Come.” The album introduced reggae to the international audience and remains one of the best selling reggae albums of all time. Cliff extended his movie career, co-starring with Robin Williams in “Club Paradise” in 1986 and in “Marked For Death” in 1990 with actor, Stephen Segal. Also, his cover of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now,” featured in the movie “Cool Runnings,” was a huge radio hit. Cliff was now exposed to a new and younger generation. Other music projects include “The Lion King,” where Cliff appeared alongside Elton John on the film’s soundtrack in 1994. Cliff is the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the third highest honor granted by the Jamaican government. Legend, Icon, and Pioneer- any one of these titles describes Jimmy Cliff and his contributions to the evolution of the reggae music. As a matter of fact, he is widely known as the reggae ambassador. “My role has always been as the shepherd of reggae music,” Cliff has noted, “when they wanted to bring reggae to America, they sent Jimmy Cliff. When they wanted to bring reggae to England, they sent Jimmy Cliff. When they wanted to bring reggae to Africa, they sent Jimmy Cliff.” Gramps Morgan, of the internationally renowned reggae band, Morgan Heritage will open for Jimmy Cliff. Morgan will be performing his hit songs like, “Wash the Tears,” “One in a Million,” and A”Come Back to Bed,” from his celebrated debut CD, Two Sides of My Heart Vol.1. There will be an After-Party immediately following after the show in the Reichhold Center concession area. The Jimmy Cliff and Gramps Morgan concerts is sponsored by International Capital & Management Company, Virgin Islands Lottery, First Bank, VI Waste Management Authority, Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort, Tropical Shipping, and Innovative Communication Corporation. Tickets are $65, $45 and $35. Tickets are available at the The Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559 or order online at www.reichholdcenter.com. |
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