Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reagge icon, dies aged 81

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Jimmy Cliff, the magnetic reggae trailblazer and actor whose voice defined joy, rebellion and survival through classics like “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get it If You Really Want” and “Vietnam,” has died at 81.

He poured pure soul into every note, creating some of the most unforgettable songs in reggae history. But now, the world is mourning, GRAMMY-winning reggae legend Jimmy Cliff has passed away.

If Bob Marley is often viewed as the “God of Reggae,” then Jimmy Cliff could be seen as the genre’s “Jesus Christ”, even though he never claimed to have created reggae himself.

Known to millions for his soaring rendition of “I Can See Clearly Now” from Cool Runnings and his timeless anthem “Many Rivers to Cross,” Cliff was a trailblazer whose influence stretched far beyond Jamaica’s shores.

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