Jimmy Cliff wins second Grammy for Rebirth

Vintage Jamaican star bags the Best Reggae Album award, duplicating his 1986 triumph with Cliff Hanger.

CALIFORNIA, United States, Tuesday February 12, 2013 – Enduring Jamaican reggae star Jimmy Cliff appears to have had a rebirth in more ways than one, taking home the Grammy for Best Reggae Album for his latest work Rebirth at the awards ceremony on Sunday at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. 

Long in coming, but well worth the wait, the award came almost 30 years after Cliff’s first Grammy triumph in 1986 with Cliff Hanger.

The vintage hitmaker has been nominated for a Best Reggae Album Grammy seven times, with Reggae Nights (1985), Club Paradise (1987), Hanging Fire (1989), Breakout (1993), and Black Magic (2005).

Rebirth, Cliff’s first album in several years and said to be his best by many music pundits, contested this year’s Grammy honours with Miracle by the Original Wailers (MRG Recordings); Tomahawk Technique (VP/Atlantic Records) by Sean Paul; New Legend: Jamaica 50th Edition (Mondo Tunes) by Sly and Robbie & the Jam Masters; and Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged On Strawberry Hill (Metropolis Recordings) by Toots and the Maytals.

Last year’s winner was Stephen Marley, who took home the award for his Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life.

Cliff’s 2013 Grammy fulfils the promise of last year, when the artist made the top 50 albums of 2012 with Rebirth on both Rolling Stone magazine and ABC News’ lists.

On Rolling Stone’s table, Rebirth came in at number 12 and was in good company placing behind Bruce Springsteen in top position with Wrecking Ball, Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange at number two, and Jack White’s Blunderbuss in third place.

ABC News listed Rebirth in 48th position, with the station's website naming favourite tracks from the Tim Armstrong-produced album as Ruby Soho, Children’s Bread, World Upside Down, Outsider, Bang, and Guns of Brixton.

More recently, the 64-year-old star was chosen to cover The Partridge Family sitcom theme song, Get Happy, which featured in the controversial Super Bowl Volkswagen television ad and went viral on YouTube. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)