Reggae Icon Jimmy Cliff Dies at 85, Leaving a Legacy of Boundary-breaking Music and Film
Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican singer, musician, and actor whose fearless creativity and charismatic stage presence expanded the horizons of reggae music and brought Jamaican culture to a global audience, has died at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era for a performer who consistently defied categorization and embraced opportunity throughout a remarkable career.
Cliff’s early albums, Splendid World, Beautiful People (1969) and 1971 (recorded in the US), showcased a uniquely varied reggae style that initially baffled critics. Containing songs like “Sitting in Limbo,” “Vietnam,” and “Many Rivers to Cross,” the music was “reggae, Jim, but not as we know it,” demonstrating a willingness to experiment that would become a hallmark of his artistry. This calibre of work led to his pivotal role in Perry Henzell‘s groundbreaking film, The Harder They Come (1972).
Henzell approached Cliff to compose the film’s soundtrack, and the pairing proved transformative. Cliff’s evolved reggae, set against Henzell’s vivid depiction of Jamaican life, resonated worldwide, propelling The harder They Come soundtrack to become one of the bestselling reggae albums of all time. Cliff remained immensely proud of his contribution to presenting Jamaica “as it really was” through both the film and his music, continuing to earn international acclaim well into the 21st century.
Beyond his musical achievements, Cliff demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness throughout his life. In 1960s London, facing eviction from his bedsit after his landlady discovered he was Black, he leveraged his newfound fame – having been featured dancing alongside Nina Simone on Top of the Pops – to remain. “I told her she couldn’t evict me as I was famous - and she agreed! So much for racism when it comes up against celebrity,” he recalled.
It was in London that he first connected with Henzell, a meeting that ultimately led to his starring role in The Harder They Come.Recounting the story, Cliff revealed his characteristic willingness to seize opportunities: “He asked me if I could write music for films. I said: ‘Yeah man,of course I can!’ It was like being back in Kong’s ice-cream shop – you’ve got to know your opportunities!” When Chris Blackwell later offered him the script and the lead role,Cliff,despite having no prior acting experience,readily accepted. “I’d never acted before, but I took it, read it and liked it… It didn’t seem like anything I couldn’t do,” he said, adding with characteristic candor, “And besides, I wasn’t going to tell them no, was I?”
