REGGAE PIONEER, SINGER and actor Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81.

His wife, Latifa Chambers, confirmed in a statement today that he passed away following a seizure and subsequent pneumonia.

In a post shared on Instagram and signed by their children, Lilty and Aken, she thanked fans for supporting him throughout his six-decade career, adding: “Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace.”

Cliff was one of the first singers to bring reggae from Jamaica to a global audience.

Known for classics such as You Can Get It If You Really Want, Wonderful World, Beautiful People and The Harder They Come, his bright, hopeful sound and distinctive voice made him an international star.

His lead role in the 1972 film The Harder They Come proved equally influential, with its soundtrack helping to introduce Jamaican music to listeners far beyond the Caribbean.

Born in St James, Jamaica, Cliff began recording in the early 1960s before signing with Island Records and later Trojan.

His blend of uplifting melodies and socially conscious lyrics earned widespread acclaim, as did later hits including his version of I Can See Clearly Now from the film Cool Runnings.

Across his career, he released more than 30 albums and collaborated with artists from the Rolling Stones to Wyclef Jean.

Tributes have poured in, including from Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who called him a “true cultural giant” whose music “lifted people through hard times and inspired generations”.

Today, Jamaica pauses to honour the life of the Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM, a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world.

Through timeless songs like Many Rivers to Cross, The Harder They Come, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and Sitting in… pic.twitter.com/nav8Qoxm6g

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) November 24, 2025

Cliff was awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit in 2003 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

His influence on reggae, and on global music more broadly, remains immense.