Jimmy Cliff, reggae legend and Jamaican icon, dies at 81
Jimmy Cliff, the legendary musician who helped make reggae popular around the world, has died, his family announced on his official Instagram account on Monday.
He was 81 years old.
“It is with deep sadness that I announce that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, crossed the border due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. I am grateful to his family, friends, fellow artists and colleagues who shared his journey with him,” his wife, Latifa Chambers, wrote on Instagram.
He was best known for songs such as “Many Rivers to Cross” and “The Harder They Come”, the title song from the 1972 film of the same name, which starred Cliff. The film’s soundtrack was a major international success and helped spread the appeal of Jamaican reggae.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a statement: “His music helped people through difficult times, inspired generations and helped shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today.”
Tributes have poured in from the music world, including many artists inspired by Cliff.
“A true foundation, a pillar of our music and one of the first to bring reggae to the world,” said Ali Campbell, of British reggae group UB40, in a message on X.
Born in Jamaica in 1944, Cliff scored his first local hit at just 14 years old with “Hurricane Hattie” and went on to win two Grammy Awards and seven nominations.
He was only one of two Jamaicans to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Marley. He was inducted in 2010, with an introductory speech by Wyclef Jean. An essay commemorating Cliff by writer Rob Bowman said that if he had done nothing more than star in “The Harder They Come”, he would have deserved to be included.
Cliff was a fundamental figure in the Jamaican reggae scene. He worked as an A&R manager, discovering new talent for Beverley’s Records. This legendary label promoted ska, rocksteady and ultimately reggae, and participated in the discovery of Desmond Dekker and the young Bob Marley.
A prolific artist until late in his life, Cliff collaborated with a series of non-reggae musicians, including the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon. At the same time, Bruce Springsteen and Willie Nelson recorded versions of his songs.
Cliff’s song “Vietnam” was declared by Bob Dylan to be “the greatest protest song ever written,” according to Cliff’s website.
After a creative resurgence in 2012 with the Grammy-winning album “Rebirth,” Cliff said, according to his website, “Now I feel like I haven’t finished 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 through music and movies. Every morning I wake up, it keeps me going.”
