Cliff leaves mourners sad but on high note

Music lovers worldwide are mourning the passing of Jimmy Cliff, the legendary star who expanded the popularity of reggae globally.

“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 co-workers who have shared his journey with him,” his wife, Latifa Chambers, wrote on Instagram on Monday.

Cliff, 81, passed from pneumonia. He was best known for classics like ‘Many Rivers to Cross’, and ‘The Harder They Come’, the title song for the movie of the same name from 1972, which featured Cliff. The film’s soundtrack was a major international success and helped spread the appeal of Jamaican reggae. ‘The Harder They Come’ musical recently had a successful run in London and will be revived in the new year.

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

Born in Jamaica in 1944, Cliff scored his first local hit aged just 14 with ‘Hurricane Hattie’ and went on to win two Grammy awards and pick up seven nominations. He was only one of two Jamaicans to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Marley.