His 1967 song 'I Can See Clearly Now' helped define the sound and reach of Jamaican music.
For a quick sense of his sound, start with 'I Can See Clearly Now' and 'The Harder They Come.' They frame that earnest delivery and the shift from crossover hits to something more pointed.
Cliff's early work in the 1960s shaped what reggae could be, and 'I Can See Clearly Now' from his album 'Hard Road to Travel' became one of those songs that crossed over to people who didn't know the genre. His 1972 recording 'The Harder They Come' brought a political edge, and his catalog includes tracks like 'Rebel In Me' and 'Peace' that show his range into ska and soul. He worked with figures like Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder, and his clear, earnest voice stayed recognizable through decades of recording.
Born James Chambers in Jamaica in 1948, he came up as reggae was taking shape in the 1960s. He kept putting out albums like 'Reggae Nights' in 1985 and 'Rebirth' in 1998, often backed by musicians like Aston and Carlton Barrett who also played with Bob Marley.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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