By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Jimmy Cliff, the pioneering Jamaican singer, songwriter, and actor who helped carry reggae from the island’s sound systems to the world stage has died on Monday.
His wife, Latifa Chambers, announced the news stating that Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.
Born on July 30, 1944, in rural Somerton, St. James Parish, Cliff began writing songs as a schoolboy inspired by local sound systems.
At 14 he moved to Kingston, adopted the stage name Jimmy Cliff, and soon signed with Island Records. In 1965 he relocated to London, where he became one of the first Jamaican artists to gain an international following.
His starring role in the 1972 cult classic film The Harder They Come and its groundbreaking soundtrack introduced reggae to global audiences and laid crucial groundwork for Bob Marley’s later worldwide success.
Tracks such as the title song “The Harder They Come,” “Many Rivers to Cross,” and “Sitting in Limbo” remain reggae standards.
Cliff’s career spanned six decades and showcased remarkable versatility, blending reggae with soul, R&B, and pop.
