Music 101

Music 101, now in its third season, features the question: How did Jimmy Cliff break into Jamaica’s music scene?—a journey back to the origins of a legend whose talent and determination helped shape reggae’s rise from local sound to global phenomenon.


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Music 101, now in its third season, explores the question: How did Jimmy Cliff break into Jamaica’s music scene? by tracing the remarkable beginnings of a young artist destined to redefine a genre. Growing up in the vibrant yet challenging streets of Somerton District and later Kingston, Cliff’s passion for music emerged early as he wrote songs, entered talent shows, and knocked on studio doors with unshakable determination. His breakthrough came when producer Leslie Kong recognized his raw talent, leading to the recording of “Hurricane Hattie,” a hit that catapulted Cliff into national fame while he was still a teenager. From that moment, his voice became a beacon of Jamaica’s musical identity, setting the stage for a career that would carry reggae far beyond the island’s shores.

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Music 101By Daniel Lucas / G.Mick Smith