One of the greatest stars of Jamaican reggae known for his 1969 hit Many Rivers to Cross and the film The Harder They Come
The singer and songwriter Jimmy Cliff, who has died aged 81, was one of Jamaica’s most celebrated performers. An itinerant ambassador who introduced the music and culture of his island to audiences across the world at a time when reggae was largely unknown, he was a pioneer with a distinctive high tenor voice whose themes of civil and human rights resonated with many.
But perhaps his most famous song was Many Rivers to Cross, also from 1969, which he wrote about the frustrations of trying to make it in the music business. Although it never commanded a high chart position, the song became a well-recognised anthem, and was rerecorded by many artists, including John Lennon, Percy Sledge, Cher, Joe Cocker and UB40.
Cliff’s other great claim to fame was his portrayal of Ivan in Perry Henzell’s groundbreaking 1972 feature film, The Harder They Come, which brought aspects of his own story into cinematic focus through improvised dialogue based on his life experiences.