""It's with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia," Latifa wrote on Instagram. "I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and co-workers who have shared his journey with him," continued the post, which was also signed by two of his children, Lilty and Aken. "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.""
"Born in the Somerton District of St James, Jamaica, in 1944, Cliff began writing music as his country was gaining its independence from the United Kingdom and as the early sounds of reggae known at the time as ska were emerging. He listened to musicians such as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Jimi Hendrix and would go on to collaborate with artists including The Clash, Kool and the Gang, Sting and Annie Lennox. Over the coming decades, he helped popularize reggae music around the world, and for a brief time was considered a rival to Bob Marley as the genre's most prominent artist."
"Superstar song-writer Bob Dylan reportedly described Cliff's 1969 hit "Vietnam" as the "best protest song" he had ever heard."
Jimmy Cliff, born in the Somerton District of St James, Jamaica, in 1944, died aged 81 after a seizure followed by pneumonia, his widow Latifa and two children confirmed. Latifa expressed gratitude to family, friends, fellow artists, co-workers and fans, noting fans were his strength. Cliff began writing music as Jamaica gained independence and early ska and reggae emerged. He drew on influences such as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Jimi Hendrix and collaborated with The Clash, Kool and the Gang, Sting and Annie Lennox. Cliff popularized reggae worldwide, recorded hits including "Vietnam" and "I Can See Clearly Now," and starred in the 1972 film The Harder They Come.
Read at www.dw.com
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