International reggae legend Jimmy Cliff has passed away, his family confirmed on Monday. In a statement shared on his official social media accounts, his wife Latifa Chambers revealed that Cliff died following complications from pneumonia, which developed after a seizure. He was 81 years old.
“I am grateful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who walked this journey with him. And to all his fans worldwide, please know that your support was his strength throughout his entire career. He deeply appreciated every single one of you,” she wrote.
Born James Chambers, Cliff played a pivotal role in bringing reggae to global prominence, especially through his breakout performance in the iconic film The Harder They Come. After moving from rural Jamaica to Kingston, he began recording music and soon scored a Jamaican chart-topper with Hurricane Hattie, one of his early songs produced for Leslie Kong’s Beverly Records, according to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).
By the late 1960s, Cliff had become a favourite across South America, earning acclaim after winning a festival prize in Brazil with his song Waterfall. His album Wonderful World, Beautiful People became a worldwide hit and even inspired Paul Simon to explore reggae music.
As the star of The Harder They Come, Cliff contributed several classics to its soundtrack, including Many Rivers to Cross, Sitting in Limbo, and the title track. These songs helped solidify him as reggae’s leading figure. Over the years, he continued to deliver hits that blended reggae with pop and ska influences.
After relocating to London in 1965 at the invitation of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, Cliff expanded his sound even further, incorporating elements of soul and rhythm and blues as he continued to shape the evolution of reggae music.