Known for hits such as You Can Get It If You Really Want and Many Rivers To Cross, the two-time Grammy Award-winning Jamaican singer and actor's career spanned six decades, during which he helped to turn reggae into a global phenomenon. His wife Latifa Chambers broke the news of his passing with a post on Instagram:
"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"
Born James Chambers in 1944, Cliff grew up as the eighth of nine children in Saint James, Jamaica. His music career began in the early '60s after relocating to the island's capital, Kingston, and working with producer Leslie Kong.
In 1965, he moved to London to work with Island Records, also the home to Bob Marley, and despite early unsuccessful attempts to adapt his sound for mainstream audiences, he eventually broke through with his 1969 single Wonderful World, Beautiful People.
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, he collaborated with numerous artists over the years, including The Rolling Stones and Sting. Alongside his acclaimed music career, he also built a successful acting career. His first lead role, in the 1972 crime drama The Harder They Come, was widely praised and is regarded as a cornerstone of Jamaican cinema.
He is one of only a handful of musicians — alongside Marley and others — to receive the Jamaican Order of Merit.
Cliff released more than 30 studio albums during the course of his career, the most recent being 2022's 'Refugees', which followed 2012's Grammy-winning 'Rebirth'.
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