Dubbed the true ambassador of Reggae music, Jimmy Cliff is the last surviving legend and icon of Jamaica’s rich musical history. He has earned himself well-deserved titles as one of the greatest musical innovator, song writer, singer and well-acclaimed actor. Having an illustrious career for over three decades, Cliff shows true perseverance and an eclectic mix of talent and flair that most seems to lack.

Clutching onto his belief of respecting reggae music and its roots, Jimmy Cliff himself became the heart and infrastructure of reggae music. His path towards success and greatness came progressively steady with a tad bit of disappointments but mostly accomplishments in his career.

Born James Chambers in 1948 in the hard streets of Saint Catherine, Jimmy Cliff knew he had vast aptitude and a vivacious, charismatic energy that would later sway millions of his staunchly dedicated fans. He recorded two rather unsuccessful singles before being spotted by Derrick Morgan, who brought Cliff to his future producer, Leslie Kong. His first single for the budding producer, the 1968 Hurricane Hattie, became an instant hit.

When the political systems of Jamaica changed as Jamaica gained its independence from Britain, so too the music. But what was developed and brought to the fore by Cliff was the up-tempo beat of ska, true rocksteady and authentic Jamaican reggae music.

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Panting with true determination, Tsitsi reveals to Buzzz, “My training will get more intense as it gets closer to September. I aim to train five days – four days of weights training, and do cardiovascular training for the other day.” The September date for which she is gearing is the Caribbean Championships to be held in Jamaica, when thirty-eight countries will compete in different body fitness and body building divisions. Tsitsi who recently topped a fouteen-woman field to take the Miss Jamaica Body-Fitness International 2006 title aims to improve on the stunning form which made her an overwhelming crowd favourite. She also took sectional prizes for Best Legs and Best Body Conditioning.

With a body well conditioned through fifteen years of rigourous karate training and swimming every weekend, Tsitsi needed just four months to prepare for that contest. Much of the thanks, she insists, must go to her personal trainer, Barry Wilson, of the Spartan Health Club who was unrelenting in his efforts to bring out the best in her. “This is the first time ever that I did weights training, but my body was at a certain level of fitness and my muscles were already well toned. So weights just kinda added the icing on the cake… helping my muscles to become more defined and helping me to lose more body fat, in addition to my nutrition programme.”

Between now and September, when she will carry the hopes of a nation on her strong shoulders, the little over five feet tall 25-year-old will be making a lot of sacrifices. In addition to a heavy training schedule, she will have to give up some of her favorite foods. These include nachos and cheese with jalapeno peppers and of course rum and raisin cheese cake. “It takes strength of mind to train when you are not in the mood, to maintain a proper and healthy nutrition and to keep the focus going despite everything that’s happening in your life,” Tsitsi stressed significantly.

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Coined a musical genius and extraordinaire, Sam Wisdom has been involved fulltime in the Jamaican music scene for over twenty-five years and has contributed significantly to the local music industry, particularly in the gospel arena. Proving that his aptitude is avidly profound, Sam Wisdom is a man that has vivacity and diversity.

He worked for five years teaching music on the then JBC TV’s program called Music Corner. He plays and teaches a number of musical instruments; including the piano, keyboard, guitar, recorder and percussions. He also gives voice training lessons; and is heavily involved in doing concerts, weddings, and conventions. He has been a choir master and musician for the New Testament Church and some of Jamaica’s largest crusades and conventions.

Wisdom reminiscences about his days of being an avid amateur photographer and coin collector; where he even had in his collection a silver truppence from the eighteen century.

Born Samuel Anthony Wisdom, he will be fifty years old in December, at which time he will host a posh birthday bash at the Hilton hotel in Kingston. Yes, sir! Sam hails from Duansvale in Trelawny and grew up in St. Mary, migrating later to the Cayman Islands to further his studies. He now lives in Belleview Heights just outside of Spanish Town

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I went from scrambling to gambling, almost lost my life, placed my biggest bet, and almost lost it twice,” these are the words of rapper and barber Shellaney ‘Ice Creame’ Bryan. Far from average, she is set to take the music industry by the horns with a style so unique that it enables her to blend rap with reggae easily.

Although born in Jamaica, her thick New York accent is a dead give away that she lived elsewhere. Born in the hilly plateau of Trelawny, Ice Creame’s country’s derivation gives her the strength to survive rocky times. She was however raised in New York City; but was later deported after calling America home for twenty-seven years, leaving her daughter and grand daughter behind.
She had somewhat of a troubled past, where she said she put herself through trials and tribulations for the benefit of fast money. Today, she’s all about change and her main goal is to spread a positive message to the youths of Jamaica through music.

Buzzz: Who is Ice Creame?
Icecreame: Ice Creame is a strong black woman who came up through the struggle, learned life the hard way, and now turned her life around and put her past into her music and try to reach the younger adolescence.

B: What do you do?
I: I’m a barber and I also go around and do motivational speeches at different schools and panel discussions. The youths are the future and somebody got to teach them right.

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