Jimmy Cliff, Reggae Legend And Jamaican Icon, Has Died At 81

Jimmy Cliff, nan legendary musician who expanded nan fame of reggae astir nan world, has died, his family announced Monday connected his official Instagram account.

He was 81.

"It’s pinch profound sadness that I stock that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed complete owed to a seizure followed by pneumonia. I americium thankful for his family, friends, chap artists, and coworkers who person shared his travel pinch him," his wife, Latifa Chambers, wrote connected Instagram.

He was champion known for songs including "Many Rivers to Cross," and "The Harder They Come," nan title opus for nan movie of nan aforesaid sanction from 1972, which featured Cliff. The film's soundtrack was a awesome world occurrence and did overmuch to dispersed nan entreaty of Jamaican reggae.

Cliff astatine Island Records successful London successful 1971.Shepard Sherbell / Corbis via Getty Images

Born successful Jamaica successful 1944, Cliff scored his first section deed aged conscionable 14 pinch "Hurricane Hattie" and would spell connected to triumph 2 Grammy awards and prime up 7 nominations.

He was only 1 of 2 Jamaicans to beryllium inducted into nan Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Marley. He was inducted successful 2010, pinch an introductory reside from Wyclef Jean. An effort commemorating Cliff from writer Rob Bowman said that if he had done thing but prima successful "The Harder They Come," he would person merited inclusion.