The Waldlorf-Astoria Hotel rocked and rolled with Jimmy
March 15, 2010 will forever live in the memory of attorney-at-law, Milton Samuda.
It was the night of all nights at the Waldlorf-Astoria Hotel in entertainment capital New York, when James “Jimmy Cliff” Chambers gave a memorable performance at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The snazzy ballroom pulsated as the legendary Jamaican musician delivered classics such as You Can Get It If You Really Want, Many Rivers to Cross and The Harder They Come with superlative aplomb and mastery.
Samuda recalled that “he was the Emperor of the night, the indisputable sovereign of entertainers as he ruled our hearts and chambers of emotions for music and what a heartfelt emotional acceptance speech Jimmy gave after he was introduced by his good friend Wyclef Jean.”
Samuda, then president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, was an invitee of Jimmy, along with his brother Christopher, to the historic event, a feat which Jimmy earned as a reggae artiste — then shared only with Bob Marley, who was inducted posthumously in 1994.
ABBA, Genesis, The Stooges and The Hollies were also in 2010 inducted into the celebrated hall of fame.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was established on April 20, 1983 and continues to induct music’s iconic artistes and entertainers.
