Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican singer who helped bring reggae to audiences around the world, has died at age 81. His family announced the news on Monday through his official Instagram account.
“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists, and coworkers who have shared his journey with him,” his wife, Latifa Chambers, wrote.
Cliff was born in Jamaica in 1944 and found success early, scoring his first hit, Hurricane Hattie, at just 14. His career went on to span more than six decades, earning him two Grammy Awards and seven nominations.
He was one of only two Jamaicans ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Marley. When Cliff was honoured in 2010, Wyclef Jean delivered the introduction, calling him a defining force in modern music.
Cliff’s influence stretched far beyond reggae, collaborating with artists such as the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon, and musicians like Bruce Springsteen and Willie Nelson recorded their own versions of his songs.
He became known worldwide for classics like Many Rivers to Cross and The Harder They Come. The 1972 film of the same name, which starred Cliff, helped introduce Jamaican music to a global audience through its hugely popular soundtrack.
His work also carried deep political meaning, with Bob Dylan once calling Cliff’s song Vietnam the “greatest protest song ever written,” according to Cliff’s website.
Even later in life, Cliff continued to create, releasing his album Rebirth in 2012, which brought him renewed acclaim and a Grammy Award.
Reflecting on his purpose, he said: “Now, I feel I have not completed what I’m here on this planet to do. I have to say what I have to say and do what I have to do via music and films. Every morning I wake up, that keeps me going.”
Image: Youtube
