Renowned for his pure tenor voice, he also starred in Jamaica’s first film, 1972 crime thriller ‘The Harder They Come’

A giant of Jamaican music, he gained international renown through the 1972 film “The Harder They Come,” and helped establish reggae’s themes of struggle, resistance and uplift.

Like the Wailers, Cliff signed to Island Records, and his Wonderful World Beautiful People was one of the first clutch of ska hits to reach the UK charts in late 1969. The follow-up was Vietnam, which Bob Dylan once described as the best protest song he’d ever heard. He also had a hit with a cover of Cat Stevens Wild World around this time.

Reservoir Media has struck up a new joint venture with Jamaican star Cordell “Skatta” Burrell and reggae and dancehall publisher Abood Music. Together, they plan to both acquire catalogs and sign and develop Jamaican artists and songwriters, aimed at “further advancing the new generation of Jamaica’s music scene”.

Cliff recorded over 30 albums in total, but his popularity skyrocketed after the low-budget Jamaican drama “The Harder They Come,” released in 1972, put him on the map as a cultural powerhouse.

Reservoir Media has announced a new joint venture with Jamaican artist Cordel “Skatta” Burrell and reggae/dancehall publisher Abood Music. Through the JV, they will look to both acquire catalogues and sign and develop Jamaican artists and songwriters.