Jimmy Cliff, the pioneer Jamaican singer and actor whose work helped introduce reggae to audiences around the world, has died at 81. His family announced the news Monday in a statement shared on his official Instagram page.
According to the statement, Cliff died following a seizure and subsequent pneumonia. “I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists, and coworkers who have shared his journey with him,” his wife, Latifa Chambers, wrote.
Cliff rose to international prominence with enduring classics including “Many Rivers to Cross” and “The Harder They Come,” the latter serving as the title track for the 1972 film in which he played the lead role. The movie and its soundtrack became landmark works that propelled Jamaican music into global consciousness.
Tributes poured in following the announcement of his death. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness praised Cliff’s influence, noting that his music “lifted people through hard times” and helped cement worldwide respect for Jamaican culture. UB40’s Ali Campbell called him “a true foundation” of reggae in a post on X.
Born in 1944, Cliff scored his first hit at age 14 with “Hurricane Hattie.” Over a career spanning more than six decades, he earned two Grammy Awards and seven nominations. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, one of only two Jamaicans to receive the honor.
Beyond his own recordings, Cliff contributed to Jamaica’s musical landscape as an A&R representative for Beverley’s Records, where he played a role in the early careers of Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley.
His songwriting also resonated far beyond reggae, attracting collaborations with artists such as Paul Simon and the Rolling Stones. His protest anthem “Vietnam” was famously described by Bob Dylan as “the greatest protest song ever written.”
Cliff continued recording and performing into his later years. Following his 2012 Grammy-winning album Rebirth, he reflected on his creative drive, saying he still felt there was more to accomplish: “Every morning I wake up, that keeps me going.”
