Reggae Legend Jimmy Cliff Passes Away at 81 After Battle With Illness
His album Wonderful World, Beautiful People also gained international success, even inspiring Paul Simon to work with reggae sounds.
Reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Globally acclaimed Jamaican reggae artist Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81, his family said on Monday. The news came through a post from his official social media accounts; his wife, Latifa Chambers, said the music legend died from complications of pneumonia after suffering a seizure.
An emotional Latifa paid a glowing tribute, full of thanks to all those who had been part of Cliff’s journey, realizing how he was well supported throughout his many years in the limelight. “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. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love,” she wrote. She also asked for her privacy during the difficult period, adding, “Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes.”
James Chambers, later to be known as Jimmy Cliff, was born on July 30, 1944, in Saint James, Jamaica. Cliff’s rise to fame began at an early age. Having moved to Kingston with his father to pursue music, he recorded his first hit, “Hurricane Hattie,” at just 14 years old. That was the beginning of an astonishing career that would make him one of the greatest voices in reggae history.
By the time he was in his mid-twenties, Cliff was an internationally known performer with hits like “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and “Vietnam,” which helped to position him on the world stage. His style evolved through the years as he incorporated elements of ska, pop, soul, and rhythm and blues into his work, eventually making him a big factor in the development of the reggae style.
In 1965, he relocated to London at the invitation of Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records. The move enabled him to expand his musical articulation and access larger pools of audiences. By the end of the 1960s, Cliff had gained immense popularity throughout South America, boosted by his prize-winning performance at the Brazilian Song Festival with his song “Waterfall.” His album Wonderful World, Beautiful People also gained international success, even inspiring Paul Simon to work with reggae sounds.
In 1972, one of the most important instances in Cliff’s career involved starring in the film The Harder They Come. He was persuaded by the writer-director, Perry Henzell, who flew to London to convince him. Later, Cliff remembered he was struck when Henzell told him that he thought he was “a better actor than a singer.” Cliff canceled his European tour to take on the role, and the film went on to play a monumental part in introducing Jamaican culture to global audiences.
Yet, despite that film’s phenomenal success, Cliff did not give up on his music. Through the years, he would create timeless classics such as “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” his cover of “I Can See Clearly Now,” and his own version of “Wild World,” each displaying his unique ability to transform any song into something distinctly his own.
Over the course of his five-decade-plus career, Cliff issued 33 albums, his last being 2022’s Refugees. The title track from that record proved one of many reflecting his concerns with global humanitarian issues; it also included a guest performance from Wyclef Jean, who had inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2010.
Cliff garnered two Grammys for the albums Cliff Hanger, in 1985, and Rebirth in 2012. This furthered his reputation as a towering figure in world music. Jimmy Cliff leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that transformed reggae, influenced generations of artists, and took Jamaican music to the world stage.
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