Jamaica has lost a native son, and the world has lost one of the most influential singers, musicians, actors, and activists of our time. Cultural icon Jimmy Cliff has died at 81. His death was announced on Instagram by his wife, Latifa Chambers.
The Instagram post reads:
“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. 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 … Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes.”
Her message was also signed by their children, Lilty and Aken.
Star of the iconic film The Harder They Come, Cliff had many international hits, including “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “I Can See Clearly Now.” Born James Chambers in St James, Colony of Jamaica, Cliff began writing music at a young age. A pioneer of reggae music and a key figure in bringing Jamaican music to the world’s stage, Cliff recorded the hit, “Hurricane Hattie” (1961)with iconic producer Leslie Kong. After a series of hit records with Kong, Cliff was signed to Island Records (UK) in 1964, releasing the highly acclaimed album Hard Road to Travel in 1967. His legendary album Wonderful World, Beautiful People, featured the hits “Waterfall,” and the iconic protest song “Vietnam.”
In 1972, Cliff starred as Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin in the classic reggae film, The Harder They Come, directed by Perry Henzel. The Harder They Come is an important film because it introduced reggae music and Jamaican culture to a global audience, with its powerful social commentary on poverty and systemic oppression in post-colonial Jamaica, a documentary-style portrayal of life in Kingston, and an unapologetic storyline of liberation at all costs. The film and its soundtrack, which features the music of Jimmy Cliff, The Maytals, and The Slickers, significantly raised international awareness of the reggae genre, making the film a cult classic that continues to resonate with global audiences today. The soundtrack was a global success, featuring the iconic songs “Many Rivers to Cross,” “Rivers of Babylon,” “Pressure Drop,” “Cliff Hanger,” and “Johnny Too Bad.”
Cliff was so popular that he was featured on Season One of Saturday Night Live (1976). Cliff’s song, “Trapped,” was covered by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and included on the 1985 We Are the World Album. In 1985, Cliff’s album Cliff Hanger 1985), won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. In 1985, Cliff also contributed to the song “Sun City”, a protest song written and composed by Steven Van Zandt and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid.
Cliff continued to appear in films and contribute to soundtracks like Cool Runnings, Cocktail, and Club Paradise. Cliff’s song, “You Can Get It if You Really Want It,” is a mainstay in Hollywood television and film, appearing on multiple soundtracks, including Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997), Blackpool (2004), Hitch (2005), and the Marvel series,”I Am Groot” (2022). The wildly popular song was even used as a campaign anthem by the Sandinista National Liberation Front in the 1990 election in Nicaragua.
Jimmy Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 at the 25th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. He was inducted by iconic musician Wyclef Jean.
Cliff is survived by his wife Latifa Chambers, son Aken, and daughters Lily and Nabiyah Be, of “Daisy Jones & the Six” fame.
He was 81.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor of The Burton Wire News. Follow Nsenga on IG @TheBurtonWire Subscribe to The Burton Wire News on Substack for exclusive content.
