Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, has died at the age of 81 after a battle with pneumonia. His wife, Latifa Chambers, announced his death on Instagram, stating that he had a seizure followed by pneumonia. She thanked his family, friends, fellow artists and fans for their support throughout his career.
Cliff was best known for hits such as You Can Get It If You Really Want, I Can See Clearly Now and Wonderful World, Beautiful People. He also starred in the 1972 crime drama The Harder They Come, which became a cornerstone of Jamaican cinema. He was one of only a handful of musicians, alongside Bob Marley, to be awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute, calling Cliff “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world”. Born in Saint James, Jamaica in 1944, Cliff began his music career in the early 1960s after moving to Kingston and collaborating with producer Leslie Kong. He later signed to Island Records and found success in the UK with Wonderful World, Beautiful People in 1969.
Cliff’s music blended upbeat rhythms with socially conscious lyrics, as seen in his song Vietnam, which pleaded for an end to the war. He continued to tour and release albums through the 1970s, and in the mid-late 1970s travelled to Africa and converted to Islam. His song Trapped was championed by Bruce Springsteen in the early 1980s, and a live version appeared on the charity album We Are the World.
