If you like reggae music, if you have listened to reggae music, if you know somebody who loves reggae music, even if you research reggae music, you will come upon the name Jimmy Cliff. He is simply one of the biggest names in both reggae music and in Jamaica ever, as far as fame he can only be compared to names such as Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, Third World and Morgan Heritage. He has also managed to touch all levels of the entertainment industry, singing Ska and Reggae and even acting. Jimmy Cliff has surely done it all, and he has been recognized for his contributions as such by his recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHF) like all halls of fame, is basically the place where the names of people who have made a great impact on music go. Not only singers, but also producers, writers anyone in the music industry... and of course you do not have to sing rock and roll to be placed on the list. It is home to famous names like Ray Charles, James Brown, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and of Course Bob Marley, just to give you a scope of how famous you have to be to get your name written there. Jimmy Cliff is slated to be inducted into the hall of fame along with Swedish pop Giants ABBA, along with The Stooges, The Hollies and Genesis.

Cliff certainly deserves his place among these great names as his career has been a showing of nothing less than genius, with songs such as The Harder They Come - A song which has been covered no less than 10 times by the likes of Keith Richards (of the rolling stones), Cher, Willie Nelson, Joe Jackson and Desmond Decker; Reggae Nights - Also been covered by La Toya Jackson; Trapped - Covered by Bruce Springstein; You Can Get it if you Really Want - Which has been covered by Desmon Dekker; and of course his biggest hit ever Many Rivers to Cross I would love to attempt to tell you how many people have covered this song, but I dont have the time, just know that chances are you've heard a cover of this song. Those are just a few of the songs (spread across his more than 20 albums) which are a part of Jimmy Cliffs epic musical Catalogue. He has also won a Grammy award for Best Reggae Album in 1985 for his album Cliff Hanger, so he has more or less done it all musically.

And then there are the movies. Cliff was the star of what was possibly the first and the most memorable truly Jamaican movie named The Harder they Come, yes it was named off his song. If you are Jamaican and you haven't watched this movie, I implore you to go watch it, you are guaranteed to be entertained. In this movie Cliff played a man named Ivanhoe Martin, a man who came from the country to town in a search to become a singing star. However he has a pretty rough time in town and eventually turns to a life of crime, which starts with him become a dealer in marijuana. I wont go any further into the movie because I would hate to ruin it for you if you have yet to watch it. Cliff has also made Cameo's in other movies such as Club Paradise, and Marked for Death.

With a career as illustrious and stunning as Jimmy Cliffs it was no surprise when he was granted the Order of Merit (The 3rd highest award given out in Jamaica), and he has also been drawn into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a fan I would like to congratulate Cliff and hope his career will continue to even greater heights.