Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dies at 81

  

James Chambers, whom the world knew as Jimmy Cliff, has been remembered as a cultural ambassador, who helped to bring reggae music to a global audience.

 

Jimmy Cliff died on Monday at the age of 81.

 

The family of the legendary reggae singer and actor shared on social media that he died from pneumonia following a seizure. 

 

With a legacy stretching back 50 years, the two-time Grammy Award winner's musical career began singing ska tunes in the 1960s.

 

He's known for hits like Wonderful World Beautiful People, Sitting in Limbo, Many Rivers To Cross, I Can See Clearly Now, Vietnam and Reggae Night.

 

He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. 

 

Cliff's mellifluous voice and charisma earned him as a breakthrough and lead role in the 1972 classic film The Harder They Come, for which he sang the title track of the same name. 

 

Reacting to his death, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness said, he was a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of the nation to the world. 

 

Dr. Holness said, through his timeless songs, Jimmy Cliff told Jamaica's story with honesty and soul. 

 

Prime Minister Holness said his music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today.

 

In the meantime, Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange said the transition of a cultural icon represents a major loss for Jamaica and for world.

 

"He gave so much of his life to delivering music which had a peculiar and relevant message and resonated in every corner of the globe. I spoke this morning with Jimmy Cliff's wife and conveyed my personal condolences and that of the government of Jamaica following his passing. He died at approximately 1 [o'clock] this morning in hospital. We're deeply saddened at his passing," she said. 

 

Opposition Leader Mark Golding said Jimmy Cliff had an immeasurable influence on Jamaican culture and global music. 

 

Mr. Golding reflected on Cliff's performance at the National Stadium for Jamaica's final World Cup qualifying match on the road to France's 1998 campaign when he sang, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and had the crowd rocking, fired up and ready to secure the country's slot in the finals. 

 

For his contribution to music and culture, Cliff was awarded the Order of Merrit in 2003.  

 

Musicologist and university lecturer Dr. Dennis Howard said Jimmy Cliff was special to the nation as he was one of the pioneers of Jamaican music.

 

Dr. Howard said Cliff made a major contribution to the spread of reggae music across the world. 

 

"And apart from Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff is the next best in terms of his impact and his reach and spreading reggae music and Jamaican culture abroad. And he extended his reach all the way down to South America. At one point, reggae was known as 'Jimmy Cliff' in Brazil," he noted.

 

Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay's famous hip strip, was renamed Jimmy Cliff Boulevard on March 28, 2019 in honour of the reggae singer.