Legendary reggae and soul musician Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81. The Jamaican star’s wife, Latifa Chambers, confirmed his passing in a statement shared on his official social media pages on Monday, revealing that he died after suffering a seizure followed by pneumonia.
“I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him,” the statement read. “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.”
Chambers also expressed gratitude to the medical team that cared for the musician in his final days.
“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,” she added.
The statement was signed by Chambers and the couple’s children, Lilty and Aken. Cliff is also survived by his daughter, singer and actress Nabiyah Be.
Jimmy Cliff gained global recognition for classics such as You Can Get It If You Really Want, Many Rivers to Cross, Wonderful World, Beautiful People, and his hit cover of I Can See Clearly Now, featured in the 1993 film Cool Runnings.
Jimmy Cliff also starred in the landmark 1972 Jamaican crime drama The Harder They Come, a film widely credited with bringing reggae to international audiences. He performed the movie’s title track as well.
A towering figure in world music, Jimmy Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. At the time of his death, he was the only living reggae artist to hold Jamaica’s prestigious Order of Merit, the nation’s highest honour for achievement in the arts and sciences.