“RIP, a real general,” Sean Paul captioned his post. “Fly high.”
Shaggy shares a photo of him on stage with the singer on his Instagram account. “His voice, his message and his spirit helped shape the soul of reggae music,” his message reads. “We have lost a true icon, but his light and legacy will live on forever.”
Jimmy Cliff (1944-2025) introduced the world to reggae music before Bob Marley was a household name
UB40 frontman Ali Campbell writes that his heart is broken by Cliff’s death. “Jimmy was not only a legend, he was light,” he says. “Rest in peace, king. Your voice lives forever and your legacy will continue to inspire generations of reggae lovers around the world.”
The family of the late Bob Marley also shared a statement on Instagram. “Jimmy played an important role in Bob’s rise and brought him to producer Leslie Kong in 1962 to record his very first singles, Judge not and One cup of coffeeto include.”
Cliff was known for hits such as Wild world, Reggae night and I can see clearly now. The 81-year-old singer died on Monday from pneumonia.