Jimmy Cliff, the reggae music icon and actor known for his lead role in the 1972 Jamaican crime/drama film The Harder They Come, has died from a seizure and pneumonia, according to his family. He was 81.
Cliff’s wife shares touching tribute on social media
On Monday, Cliff’s wife, Latifa Chambers, confirmed his death in a loving post shared on his official Instagram account and co-signed by their two children, Lilty and Aken.
“I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love,” she wrote in the post’s caption.
She continued, “I also wanted to thank Dr. Couceyro and the whole medical staff, as they have been extremely supportive and helpful during this difficult process. Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes. I hope you all can respect our privacy during these hard times. Further information will be provided at a later date.”
Who was Jimmy Cliff?
Born in Saint James, Jamaica, in 1944, Cliff began his music career in the 1960s in Kingston, gained local hits with producer Leslie Kong, and achieved international success after signing with Island Records, per The Guardian. His breakthrough hit was in 1969 with “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” which topped the UK charts.
Throughout his career, Cliff helped bring reggae to a global audience with other upbeat classics like “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” and other hits that helped cement his place in the musical genre alongside other icons, according to Deadline.
He gained international recognition for his lead role in Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come, along with an influential soundtrack, which helped introduce reggae to U.S. and global audiences. From there, he continued honing his acting skills and landed a starring role in the 1986 film Club Paradise. Beyond his film work, Cliff is best known for a musical career that spans six decades, more than 30 albums and international tours.
‘His music lifted people through hard times’
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness also shared a tribute to Cliff, calling him “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world … Jimmy Cliff told our story with honesty and soul. His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today,” according to The Guardian.
Cliff was awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit alongside other reggae legends like Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. He later branched out into other musical genres like rock and soul. “I felt, ‘If I put me in this one little bag, I’m going to be suffocated. How am I going to say what else I want to say?’” he explained. “And that has been a big struggle in my career. They say, ‘You’re a Jamaican, you’re known for reggae,’ so you’re supposed to do that. But I won’t,” he said in an interview with The Independent.
“I felt like, ‘I’ve done my part; now I’m on another path.’ It was perceived by others that I was wrong, that I could have been like Bob. But I felt good. Looking for the new, that’s fundamental to me,” he added.