Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, known for global hits like “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and his iconic role in “The Harder They Come,” has died at 81 after a seizure and pneumonia. Tributes pour in as Jamaica honors one of its greatest cultural ambassadors
Legendary Reggae Icon, Jimmy Cliff Dies at 81
Legendary reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, the artist who helped propel Jamaica’s rhythmic sound onto the global stage, has died at the age of 81, his wife announced on Monday.
“It is 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, wrote on his official Instagram account.
“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 career,” she added.
Across more than four decades, Cliff wrote and performed music that blended reggae with elements of folk, soul, ska, and rock, often tackling themes of politics, poverty, injustice, and anti-war activism.
A multi-instrumentalist best known for timeless classics such as “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “The Harder They Come,” Cliff is widely regarded as reggae’s most influential figure after the late Bob Marley, with whom he collaborated early in Marley’s career.
His global breakthrough came with the acclaimed 1972 film “The Harder They Come,” in which he starred. The film, inspired partly by his upbringing in poverty, introduced both Cliff and reggae music to an international audience and cemented his place in music history.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to the late star, calling him “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 to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today,” Holness said. “Walk good, Jimmy Cliff. Your legacy lives on in every corner of our island and in the hearts of the Jamaican people.” Read More
