Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican singer and actor who became a global ambassador for reggae music, has died at the age of 81.
The news was confirmed by his wife, Latifa Chambers, in a statement posted to Instagram. She shared that his passing was due to "a seizure followed by pneumonia."
"It's with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over," Chambers wrote. "I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him."
She also addressed his global fanbase, stating, "To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career." The message was co-signed by their children, Lilty and Aken.
A star since the 1960s, Cliff was instrumental in bringing the sound of Jamaica to the world. With timeless hits like "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and the anthem "You Can Get It If You Really Want," his optimistic spirit and powerful voice defined reggae for a generation.
His cultural impact was cemented with his starring role as a gun-toting rebel in the seminal 1972 crime drama, The Harder They Come. The film and its iconic soundtrack are widely credited with introducing reggae music to American and international audiences, making it a cornerstone of both Jamaican cinema and global music history.
Jimmy Cliff's legacy endures as that of a pioneering artist
whose work celebrated the human spirit and spread the message of reggae across
the globe.