The global music community is mourning the loss of Jimmy Cliff, the iconic Jamaican reggae singer, musician, and actor whose voice and artistry helped carry the sound of Jamaica far beyond its shores. Cliff died on November 24, 2025, at the age of 81, following a seizure and subsequent pneumonia, according to a statement by his wife, Latifa Chambers.
“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” she wrote. She expressed gratitude to family, friends, fellow artists and colleagues, and signed the message alongside their children, Lilty and Aken.
Jimmy Cliff was more than a musician; he was one of the key architects of reggae’s global rise. With timeless hits like “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, he captured hearts with messages of resilience, unity, and hope. His sound shaped generations and introduced millions around the world to Jamaica’s cultural heartbeat.
His defining moment in cinema came in 1972, when he starred in “The Harder They Come”, playing a rebellious outlaw whose struggle and grit struck a chord far beyond the Caribbean. The film is widely credited with bringing reggae to the American mainstream and cementing Cliff as a cultural force whose work transcended borders.
Born James Chambers in 1948, the eighth of nine children, Cliff rose from deep poverty in rural St. James, Jamaica, to international fame, a journey he would later describe in his lyrics as proof that determination could overcome circumstance.
In life, he was celebrated as a pioneer. In death, he is remembered as a legend who turned struggle into rhythm and whose music remains an anthem of hope around the world.
Jimmy Cliff leaves behind a legacy that will continue to echo wherever reggae is played, sung, or felt.
Rest in power, Maestro.