The Jamaican reggae legend Jimmy Cliff passed away at the age of 81 due to a seizure followed by pneumonia as revealed by his family. He was the only living reggae musician who had the Order of Merit, which is the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government. He was best known for successful songs like “Many Rivers to Cross”, “The Harder They Come”, “Reggae Night” and “Rebel In Me”.
As an actor, he was the star of the 1972 movie “The Harder They Come” (1972), directed by Perry Henzell. He also appeared in the Harold Hamis comedy “Club Paradise” (1986), which also had Robin Williams and Peter O’Toole. He was also a good friend of many Rock stars, including Keith Richards.
Official statement about Jimmy Cliff’s death
“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. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love. I also wanted to thank Dr. Couceyro and the whole medical staff, as they have been extremely supportive and helpful during this difficult process.”
“Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes. I hope you all can respect our privacy during these hard times. Further information will be provided at a later date. See you and we see you Legend. Latifa , Lilty and Aken,” the statement said.
Jimmy Cliff started his career in 1962 and had the chance to release his first album “Hard Road to Travel” in 1967. He released 33 albums and EPs during his career, the final one being “Refugees” in 2022.
Cliff was inducted by Wyclef Jean into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. During his speech, Jean said: “When we saw Jimmy Cliff, we saw ourselves”.