Remembering Jimmy Cliff
• Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican singer, actor and cultural ambassador for Reggae music, who starred in and wrote the title song for the iconic 1972 film The Harder They Come, has died, according to a message from his wife. He was 81.
As covered by Variety, the news of Cliff’s death was shared by his wife Latifa Chambers via Instagram post that reads, “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.” Her message was also signed by their children, Lilty and Aken.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to Cliff, calling him “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world… Jimmy Cliff told our story with honesty and soul. His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today.”
Cliff’s other hits include “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” the oft-covered “Many Rivers to Cross,” and “Wonderful World, Beautiful People.”
In 2003, Cliff was awarded Jamaica’s prestigious Order of Merit, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. The Library of Congress placed “The Harder They Come” into the National Recording Registry in 2021.
