Jimmy Cliff, one of the most influential figures in reggae music, has died at the age of 81. His wife, Latifa Chambers, announced on Instagram that he passed away after a seizure followed by pneumonia.
Cliff was a towering figure in Jamaican music, rising to prominence in the 1960s and helping introduce reggae to audiences worldwide with classics like Wonderful World, Beautiful People and You Can Get It If You Really Want. His starring role in the 1972 film The Harder They Come became a landmark moment in Jamaican cinema and was credited with bringing reggae into mainstream American culture.
Born James Chambers in 1948 in St. James, Jamaica, he grew up in deep poverty as the eighth of nine children. He discovered his gift for singing early, performing in his local church at age six. By 14, he had moved to Kingston, adopted the stage name Jimmy Cliff, and was already recording music. His breakthrough came with Hurricane Hattie, which topped the Jamaican charts.
Cliff later moved to London in 1965 to work with Island Records. Although early attempts to shape his sound for rock audiences weren’t immediately successful, he eventually achieved global recognition with hits such as Wonderful World, Beautiful People and the protest anthem Vietnam — a song Bob Dylan once praised as “the best protest song ever written.”
His impact extended far beyond his early hits. Cliff won Grammy Awards for his albums Cliff Hanger (1985) and Rebirth (2012), and in 2010, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His wife’s tribute, signed also by their children Lilty and Aken, expressed gratitude to fans who supported him throughout his long career.
Jimmy Cliff leaves behind an enduring legacy as one of reggae’s most powerful and joyful voices.