Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81, his wife, Latifa Chambers, announced on Monday.
She wrote on his official Instagram account, “It is 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. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career.”
Cliff spent more than four decades creating music that blended reggae with folk, soul, ska, and rock, often addressing politics, poverty, injustice, and war. He was a multi-instrumentalist and singer of hits such as “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “The Harder They Come.”
His 1972 film “The Harder They Come,” which he starred in, helped introduce reggae to a global audience and cemented his place as one of the most influential figures in the genre after Bob Marley.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, “His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today. Walk good, Jimmy Cliff. Your legacy lives on in every corner of our island and in the hearts of the Jamaican people.”
Cliff’s contributions to music and culture earned him recognition as a true cultural giant who brought Jamaica’s spirit to the world.
