Regegae legend Jimmy Cliff suffered a seizure and pneumonia and then died at the age of 81. His passing was confirmed on Monday by his wife, Latifa Chambers, in a post shared on his social media pages.
Her announcement also revealed that the seizure was followed by pneumonia, a battle he ultimately did not recover from. She expressed gratitude to all who supported him throughout his long journey. “To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated every fan for their love,” the statement read.
Jimmy Cliff, rightfully named James Chambers, had a rural upbringing to global influence. His journey began long before the awards, the film roles, or the worldwide recognition. He began releasing music after he moved from the countryside to Kingston, where he quickly got his breakthrough. His songs debuted on the charts, and he earned his first number one with the single Hurricane Hattie, produced under Leslie Kong’s Beverly Records label.
Cliff was instrumental in shifting the direction of Jamaican music, and his style evolved quickly. During his career, he blended the sound like pop, ska, and later soul and Rhythm and Blues, before settling into the reggae voice that would define his legacy. By 1965, Cliff relocated again, this time to London under the encouragement of the Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. His migration also pushed his evolution even further.
By the end of the 1960s, Cliff was not just known; he was in demand. He garnered success in South America, where he did a prize-winning performance of Waterfall at a Brazilian festival. The momentum of his success continued with Wonderful World, Beautiful People, an album that attracted international listeners and even sparked the curiosity of artistes like Paul Simon.
But it was The Harder They Come that cemented his place in music history. His role in the film, and the unforgettable songs he contributed, Many Rivers to Cross, Sitting in Limbo, and the title track, brought reggae to global attention in a way few works had before.