Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dies at 81

Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81, his family announced on social media Monday.

“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” his wife Latifa Chambers said.

“To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his career … Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace.”

Cliff, known for his distinctive voice and stage presence, helped bring Jamaican music and culture to a global audience.

He starred in the 1972 classic The Harder They Come, portraying Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin, a young singer navigating the dangers of crime and exploitation in Jamaica.

Reflecting on the role, Cliff told Variety in 2022, “Ivanhoe was a real-life character for Jamaicans … being a hero was the manner in which [the director] wanted to make his name, an anti-hero in the way Hollywood turns its bad guys into heroes.”

The musician’s hits, including Many Rivers to Cross and You Can Get It If You Really Want, resonated worldwide. He won two Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album in 1986 and 2012 and released his final single, Human Touch, in 2021.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute, calling Cliff “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world … His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped shape global respect for Jamaican culture.”