International Desk (EFE).- Jamaican reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, one of the genre’s most influential global figures, died on Monday at the age of 81 due to complications from pneumonia, his wife Latifa Chambers announced on social media.
“With deep sadness, I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, passed away due to a seizure caused by pneumonia,” Chambers wrote, adding that she wanted to honor “all those who shared the journey with him.”
“To all his fans around the world, know that your support was his strength throughout his career. He truly appreciated the love from each of you,” she said.
Family confirms death and pays tribute
Born James Chambers on Jul. 30, 1944, in Saint James, Jamaica, Cliff began entering music competitions as a child and launched his career at 17 with “Hurricane Hattie,” after convincing producer Leslie Kong to record his first tracks.
His breakthrough came with his self-titled 1969 album, featuring classics such as Many Rivers to Cross, Vietnam and Wonderful World, Beautiful People.
Cliff later moved to the United Kingdom, becoming a major reggae and ska star and one of only two Jamaicans in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Marley.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness led the tributes, saying on X that “Jamaica pauses today to honor the life of the Honorable Jimmy Cliff… a cultural giant whose music carried the hearts of our nation to the world.”
Holness highlighted songs like Many Rivers to Cross and The Harder They Come, noting that Cliff “told our story with soul and honesty” and that his music “inspired generations and helped shape the global respect Jamaican culture enjoys today.”
British reggae group UB40 called Cliff “an icon in music and an original reggae superstar,” adding: “Jimmy has finally crossed the last river.”
The band’s lead singer, Ali Campbell, said he was “devastated” by the loss of “a progenitor of reggae… one of the first to take reggae to the world,” writing, “Rest in peace, king. We have many rivers to cross.”
Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley, thanked “life for a great man,” calling Cliff a “brother and legend” in a post on Instagram. “Safe travels, master. You gave us an exciting extension of being among the greatest,” he wrote, urging followers to “value our legends.”
A six-decade legacy that transformed Reggae
Cliff became a global cultural figure after starring in the 1972 Jamaican film The Harder They Come, for which he also composed the soundtrack.
The film is credited with introducing reggae to U.S. audiences, solidifying his role as one of the genre’s most prominent ambassadors.
His hits, including The Harder They Come, You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now, helped bring Jamaican music to mainstream international audiences.
Throughout his career, Cliff earned admiration from artists such as the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, and Annie Lennox, many of whom collaborated with him.
Others, including Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Cher, New Order, and Fiona Apple, recorded covers of his songs.
Bob Dylan once called Vietnam “the greatest protest song ever written,” according to Cliff’s official website.
Cliff won a Grammy Award in 2012 for Best Reggae Album with Rebirth and, in recent years, collaborated with Ghanaian producer Kwame Yeboah, returning to what he called “the pure roots of reggae.”
In a 2015 interview with EFE, Cliff said, “Music is like oxygen. We all need it to stay alive, and it is what unites us.”
Even after more than six decades of work, he insisted he was still searching for his best song: “If my music can inspire someone to want to live a better life and not give up, that to me is a great success.” EFE
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