Jimmy Cliff, the man who put reggae on the world map with his starring role in the classic yard flick The Harder They Come, stopped by Miss Lily's, the hottest Jamaican restaurant in New York last night with his guitar in hand. The proprieters of Miss Lily's invited some of their best friends for the occasion, hosting a private preview of their next-door boutique/gallery space, Miss Lily's Variety.
Fresh off taping an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show, Cliff performed an intimate acoustic set including classics like "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "Many Rivers To Cross," as well as selections from his latest EP Sacred Fire. He also chatted with Caribbean radio personality Pat McKay and gave DJ Rob Kenner a fist bump when the selector threw on Cliff's first hit tune, "Miss Jamaica." The event was the first of the Radio Lily series, broadcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio's reggae show, The Joint.
Attendees—including Salman Rushdie, Matthew Modine, Leon, and Julian Schnabel—sipped on fresh juices from the Miss Lily Variety's organic juice bar and patty shop. There was even a special limited-edition t-shirt created especially for the occasion. A portion of all Miss Lily's Variety sales will go to the Rockhouse Foundation, a US registered charity that transforms the places where Jamaica's children learn and supports the people who teach them.
