Jimmy Cliff, one of the most prominent and beloved proponents of reggae music, has died at the age of 81.
A star since the 1960s, he helped to bring the sound of Jamaica to a global audience through hits such as Wonderful World, Beautiful People, and You Can Get It If You Really Want.
His lead role as a gun-toting rebel in the 1972 crime drama The Harder They Come is a cornerstone of Jamaican cinema, and was attributed as the movie that brought reggae to America.
Cliff's wife, Latifa Chambers, announced his death via a statement on Instagram.
It's with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia, she wrote.
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.
Born James Chambers in 1944, Cliff grew up as the eighth of nine children in abject poverty in the parish of St. James, Jamaica. Blessed with a sweet, mellifluous voice, he began singing at his local church at the age of six. By the time he was 14, he had moved to Kingston and adopted the surname Cliff to express the heights he intended on reaching.
Cliff became an international star with The Harder They Come, expressly written for the movie of the same name, in which he played Ivan Martin, a young man trying to break into Jamaica's corrupt music industry.
In reflecting on his career and the impact of his music, Cliff often remarked, The essence of my music is struggle. What gives it the icing is the hope of love. His songs have inspired countless listeners, and his legacy will continue to resonate in the hearts of many.
