Jimmy Cliff. Photo: Collected

WASHINGTON, Nov 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Jamaica's Jimmy Cliff, the iconic reggae star who helped transform the island's music into a global cultural phenomenon, has died, his wife said Monday in a social media post. He was 81.

"It is with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia," said his wife Latifa Chambers on Instagram, thanking "family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him."