Reggae star James Chambers, better known by his stage name Jimmy Cliff, died of pneumonia on Monday, November 24, in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Born in the parish of Saint James, the artist had become one of the greatest ambassadors of reggae music, even though he had sung soul music. He had released his first single at the age of 18, just as his island, Jamaica, a British colony, gained independence in 1962.
During his career, Jimmy Cliff had released some 40 albums, won two Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album (“Cliff Hanger” in 1985 and “Rebirth” in 2012) and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. “Many Rivers to Cross” (1969), “Vietnam” (1970), “The Harder They Come” (1972), “Reggae Night” (1983), “We All Are One” (1983), “I Can See Clearly Now”, a song by Johnny Nash, (1992) are some of the star’s best-known tracks. In France, the guitarist had recorded the song “Melody Tempo Harmony” with singer Bernard Lavilliers (1995).
With “The Harder They Come”, a film by Jamaican director and writer Perry Henzell for which he wrote part of the soundtrack, his fans had discovered him as an actor. Jimmy Cliff’s latest album, “Refugees”, was released in 2022 with, among others, the collaboration of Haitian Wycliff Jean, member of the group Fuggees.
A fervent defender of reggae music, the singer had deviated from the Rastafari movement and had embraced other religions, notably Islam, before becoming a Christian again.
His identity quest had led him to visit the African continent several times from 1974. He had given memorable concerts in the land of his ancestors. The Caribbean star had also made her voices heard on many stages in our region (Festival de Fort-de-France, Martinique in 2019, Festival Terre de Blues de Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe in 2015, St. Kitts Music Festival in 2020, etc.).
