In an interview special airing today and tomorrow, HPR All Things Considered Host Dave Lawrence welcomes reggae's greatest living legend, Jimmy Cliff, back to the show to discuss the newly released Collector’s Edition of the landmark Jamaican film The Harder They Come. From the late Director Perry Henzell, Jimmy Cliff played the lead role as Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, also known as Rhyging, a 1940’s real-life Jamaican criminal in the island nation. The 1972 film not only started Jimmy’s professional acting career, but is credited with bringing reggae to the world.
Over two remarkable segments, we’ll learn not only about the groundbreaking film, but how Jimmy’s own experiences in Jamaica and the music industry helped inform it, plus hear stories of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member's life prior to the film, including his role in helping to launch both the careers of Bob Marley and Desmond Dekker. Friday afternoon we'll air the second part of the radio interview special, as well as post the complete forty minute interview the specials were created from.
MORE JIMMY:
Jimmy was last on with Dave in 2012 in both an advance phone interview and a follow-up recorded here in Honolulu after his area concert.
See an excerpt from the film:
