(Jamaica Gleaner) KINGSTON, Jamaica – Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff has won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for the album Rebirth.
The Grammy award took place today in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
He beat four other nominees in the category for his second Grammy. His rivals were The Original Wailers (Miracle); Sean Paul (Tomahawk Technique); Sly & Robbie & The Jam Masters (New Legend — Jamaica 50th Edition) and Toots and the Maytals (Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged on Strawberry Hill).
The 64 year-old Cliff has been in the news recently.
Last week, his version of the Partridge Family sitcom theme song, Get Happy, appeared in a controversial Super Bowl Volkswagen television advertisement.
Cliff’s first Grammy triumph came in 1986 with Cliff Hanger.
Rebirth sold favourably and earned strong reviews from major publications such as Rolling Stone.
Cliff has been nominated for a Best Reggae Album Grammy seven times. His other nominations were Reggae Nights (1985), Club Paradise (1987), Hanging Fire (1989), Breakout (1993), and Black Magic (2005).