Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff is dead

Jimmy Cliff, one of reggae’s most influential global voices, has died at the age of 81.

The Jamaican star, known for classics like Wonderful World, Beautiful People, You Can Get It If You Really Want and Many Rivers To Cross, was a key figure in taking reggae from the Caribbean to the world.

His breakout acting role in the 1972 film The Harder They Come also helped introduce the genre to American audiences and cemented his legacy in Jamaican cinema.

Cliff’s wife, Latifa Chambers, announced his passing in a statement on Instagram. She said her husband died after a seizure followed by pneumonia.

“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over,” she wrote, thanking fans and colleagues for supporting his decades-long journey. Their children, Lilty and Aken, also signed the message.

Born James Chambers in St. James, Jamaica, in 1944, Cliff grew up in a large, modest family and started singing in church at age six. By 14, he had moved to Kingston, taken the stage name “Cliff,” and begun chasing a music career that quickly took off. His early single Hurricane Hattie became a Jamaican chart-topper.

In 1965, he moved to London and joined Island Records. After several attempts to refine his sound, Cliff found international success with his 1969 hit Wonderful World, Beautiful People. His song Vietnam, which Bob Dylan once called “the best protest song ever written,” further established him as a voice of conscience.

Jimmy Cliff often said his music carried struggle at its core, but always wrapped in hope and love.

His influence stretched across generations, inspiring artists in reggae, pop, soul, and world music. Tributes are expected from across the entertainment industry as fans mourn one of Jamaica’s most enduring musical ambassadors.