One of the proponents of reggae music, James Chambers popularly known as Jimmy Cliff, is dead.
The legendary Jamaican musician died on Monday after a brief illness at the age of 81.
Announcing his husband’s death on social media on Monday, Jimmy Cliff’s wife, Latifa Chambers, said: “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.”
Their children, Lilty and Aken, also signed the message.
Born in 1948, Jimmy Cliff grew up as the eighth of nine children in abject poverty in the parish of St. James, Jamaica. He began singing at his local church at the age of six, and by 14 had moved to Kingston, adopting the surname Cliff to reflect the heights he intended to reach.
The reggae icon recorded several singles before topping the Jamaican charts with his composition, Hurricane Hattie. In 1965, he moved to London to work with Island Records – later home to Bob Marley – though early attempts to adapt his sound to rock audiences were not fully successful.
Jimmy Cliff struck gold with the 1969 single, Wonderful World, Beautiful People – an upbeat anthem – and the politically charged Vietnam, which Bob Dylan called “the best protest song ever written.”
He became an international star with The Harder They Come, playing Ivan Martin, a young man trying to break into Jamaica’s corrupt music industry.
“The film opened the door for Jamaica,” Jimmy Cliff recalled. “It said, ‘This is where this music comes from.’”
The Jamaican music star helped popularize reggae around the world and paved the way for future stars of the genre. His later works included Grammy-winning albums like Cliff Hanger (1985) and Rebirth (2012). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.