Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican music and film star, dies at 81CEFR B1
25 Nov 2025
Adapted from Emma Lewis, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Royce Fonseca, Unsplash
Jimmy Cliff, born James Chambers on July 30, 1944, died on November 24, 2025, at the age of 81. His wife Latifa said on social media that he had a seizure and then died of pneumonia. Cliff was one of Jamaica's best-known cultural figures and the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit.
After moving to Kingston at 14, he sang in church, entered talent contests and studied radio and television. He had a local hit, "Hurricane Hattie", at 17. Producer Chris Blackwell brought him to England and his 1967 international debut Hard Road to Travel included "Waterfall", which won an international song festival in Brazil. Later hits included "Wonderful World, Beautiful People", "Vietnam" and a cover of "Wild World" that reached the UK Top Ten.
He recorded more than 30 albums, including 2022's Refugees, and won Reggae Grammy Awards for Cliff Hanger and Rebirth. His role in the 1972 film The Harder They Come and its soundtrack made him a global cultural force. Political leaders and fellow artists publicly praised his influence.
Difficult words
- pioneer — A person who is among the first to explore or create.
- legendary — Famous and admired, often in an extraordinary way.
- influential — Having great influence on someone or something.
- accolade — An award or privilege granted as a special honor.accolades
- resonated — To produce a positive response or effect.
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Discussion questions
- How do you think Cliff's music influenced other artists?
- What topics do you believe are important for protest songs today?
- Why is it important to celebrate cultural icons from different genres?
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