Jimmy Cliff, Reggae Great, Passes Away at 81
Photo: Marc Millman
Jimmy Cliff, the magnetic reggae, ska and rocksteady pioneer, known for his jovial musical output, delivered with a smooth voice and soulful cadence has passed away at age 81.
Cliff will forever remain synonymous with his artistry on songs such as: “The Harder They Come,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “Many Rivers to Cross.”
His wife, Latifa Chambers, confirmed Cliff’s death on social media, writing: “It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.”
She extended thanks to his fanbase, adding, “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.”
Cliff was born in Jamaica on July 30, 1944. As an adolescent, he had a natural aptitude for songwriting, married with his vibrant vocals that underscored lyrics that coalesced time, space, and feeling. As a teenager, he arrived in Kingston to experience the city’s vibrant music scene, which also helped propel the likes of future greats Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Toots Hibbert.
Prior to the onset of the ‘70s, Cliff had reached local stardom through the success of hit singles, “King of Kings,” “Miss Jamaica,” “Dearest Beverly,” and made an initial impression on American audiences during the World’s Fair in New York, where he took part in the program, “This is Ska!” The musical presentation also included Toots and the Maytals, Prince Buster and Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires.
He signed with Island Records and relocated to the UK, but was not initially commercially successful, due in part to the label’s intentions to sell his songs to a rock-focused audience.
Cliff cut his first record, Hard Road to Travel, and scored high marks. “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” followed, becoming a top-10 hit in Britain and beyond. “Vietnam” also arrived around the same time and was deemed one of the best protest songs by Bob Dylan.
In 1972, Cliff made his acting debut as Vincent “Ivanhoe” Martin in the now-classic reggae film The Harder They Come, directed by Perry Henzell. The film’s soundtrack went on to become a significant success, elevating the genre’s beloved status through the launch of the title track and staples such as the enduring favorite “Sitting Here in Limbo.”
After appearing on the first season of Saturday Night Live in 1976 as the musical guest and releasing the ensuing albums Unlimited, Struggling Man, Brave Warrior, and Follow My Mind, he took a break from the Western lifestyle, opting for Africa, where he subsequently converted to Islam.
After his return, Cliff began a steady output of collaborations and studio work, recording and touring with Kool & The Gang and receiving recognition from other acts. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band started covering the little-known “Trapped,” which was later included on 1985’s We Are The World LP.
Jerry Garcia also began integrating Cliff’s songs into his setlists. Notably, he first covered “The Harder They Come” with Merl Saunders before taking it to his self-titled project beginning in 1976, and performed the track over 350 times. During the latter portion of Garcia’s career, he also integrated “Sitting Here in Limbo” in his discography, recording it with his acoustic collaborator, David “Dawg” Grisman. Others, such as John Lennon, UB40, and Cher, also interpreted his music.
Cliff’s hard work was recognized in 1985, when he took home the Grammy for Best Reggae Album for Cliff Hanger. That same year, he was one of the artists to appear on the protest track “Sun City,” which was written and composed by Steve Van Zandt, as part of Artists United Against Apartheid, in opposition to the South African policy.
He joined the Rolling Stones in the studio, contributing to 1986’s Dirty Work, and appeared on the comedy LP Club Paradise with Robin Williams and Peter O’Toole. From the set, “Seven Day Weekend” emerged, which Cliff sang with Elvis Costello.
His songs returned to the big screen in 1988, with “Shelter of Your Love” scoring the Tom Cruise film, Cocktail. Cliff kept up with movie appearances in Marked for Death (1990) and covered Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” on the soundtrack for Cool Runnings (1993).
During the aughts, Cliff collaborated with the likes of The Clash’s Joe Strummer, Sting, and Annie Lennox, emphasizing the significance of his contributions to music on a global scale and his ascension beyond the reggae canon, with added influence from samba, rap, and rock-and-roll.
In 2010, Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, he participated in the LOCKN’ Festival, joining Widespread Panic and Chuck Leavell. The appearance featured live performances of “Sitting Here in Limbo,” “The Hard They Come,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Many Rivers to Cross,” “Guns of Brixton,” and “I Can See Clearly Now.”
Most recently, Cliff returned to the studio to cut his final record, 2022’s Refugees. Cliff is survived by his wife and children. In celebration of his life and legacy, watch film and performance clips from his effervescent career.
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