SFGATE: Missing Reggae on the River attendee found dead below 35-foot cliff
- #news
- #headline
Figure timeline
Jimmy Cliff
James Ezekiel Chambers, known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician. He was considered to be one of Jamaica's most celebrated musicians and was credited with helping to popularise reggae music internationally. At the time of his death, he was the 4th reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour granted by the Jamaican government f…
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
entertainment · Jamaican musician (1944–2025) · singer · songwriter · recording artist · composer · record producer · musician · film producer · also Jimmy Cliff, Cliff
Born 30 July 1944 · Died 24 November 2025 · Q109063
126 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
4 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
I grew up in a condition where I could have chosen to go either way — negatively or postively — and so I kind of chose to go positive — and that stayed with me through my life — always have to have a positive outlook on whatever situation there is — and so it comes out in my music.
- Award
2026· 2 entries
Public attention spiked: 4,138 Wikipedia readers in one day, 9.9× the usual 420, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
2025· 7 entries
The Guardian: Jimmy Cliff’s charisma and fearless creativity expanded the horizons of reggae | Lloyd Bradley
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Jimmy Cliff obituary
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Jimmy Cliff: a life in pictures
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
- #news
- #headline
Died 2025-11-24.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
Released album “Spirit That Unites (Live Old Roslyn '78)”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
“I grew up in a condition where I could have chosen to go either way — negatively or postively — and so I kind of chose to go positive — and that stayed with me through my life — always have to have a positive outlook on whatever situation there is — and so it comes out in my music.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
2022· 4 entries
Released album “Reggae Mix: Bob Marley & Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
The Guardian: Reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff: ‘In England we had to fight to get any kind of recognition’
- #news
- #headline
Released album “Refugees”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
The Guardian: The Harder They Come review – Jimmy Cliff falls hard in visceral revenge western
- #news
- #headline
2021· 1 entry
The Guardian: The return of Jimmy Cliff: ‘Rebel spirit is still in the Jamaican people’
- #news
- #headline
2020· 1 entry
The soundtrack was added to the United States Library of Congress's National Recording Registry
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2018· 1 entry
Released album “You Can Get it if You Really Want”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2017· 1 entry
Released album “Live in Chicago”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2014· 1 entry
The Guardian: Jimmy Cliff review – a joyful jamboree
- #news
- #headline
2013· 4 entries
Awarded Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for Rebirth (2013).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Released album “Greatest Hits”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Icon”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The KCRW Session”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2012· 3 entries
The Guardian: How we made: songwriter and actor Jimmy Cliff and actor Carl Bradshaw on The Harder They Come
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Jimmy Cliff: 'I always have a positive outlook' - video interview
- #news
- #headline
Released album “Rebirth”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2011· 2 entries
Cliff worked with producer Tim Armstrong, lead singer of American punk band Rancid, on the EP The Sacred Fire and the full-length album Rebirth
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Original Album Classics”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2010· 2 entries
Released album “Harder Road to Travel: The Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Awarded Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2010).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2008· 2 entries
Released album “King of Kings: The Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Reggae Legends”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2006· 2 entries
Released album “The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff & Peter Tosh”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Essential Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2005· 1 entry
Released album “The Harder They Come: The Definitive Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2004· 8 entries
Released album “20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Many Rivers to Cross”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Black Magic”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Reggae Night”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “1973 - 1975 The EMI Years”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Cliff completely reworked the songs, dropping the reggae in favour of an electronic sound, for inclusion in Black Magic
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “This Is Crucial Reggae”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Goodbye Yesterday”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2003· 8 entries
Released album “The Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Singles”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Anthology”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Awarded Order of Merit (2003).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Released album “Many Rivers to Cross: The Best of Jimmy Cliff (1961 - 1970)”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
"You Can Get It If You Really Want" was included in the soundtrack to the film Something's Gotta Give
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “The Best of”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Sunshine in the Music”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2002· 4 entries
Released album “We Are All One: The Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Steppin’ Out of Limbo”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released the album Fantastic Plastic People in Europe, after first providing free downloads using p2p software
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Fantastic Plastic People”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2001· 5 entries
Released album “Les Indispensables de Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Classic Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Cliff became an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “The Universal Masters Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2000· 3 entries
Released album “Simply the Best”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “The Messenger”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Wanted”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1999· 4 entries
Released album “Ultimate Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Humanitarian”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Wonderful World”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Millenium Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1998· 3 entries
Released album “The Best”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Journey of a Lifetime”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “20 Super Sucessos”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1997· 1 entry
Released album “Super Hits”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1996· 4 entries
Released album “Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Best Of”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Shout for Freedom”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Higher & Higher”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1995· 4 entries
Released album “Definitive Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Jimmy Cliff, vol. 2”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Cliff released a collaboration with Lebo M, the single "Hakuna Matata", a song from the soundtrack of The Lion King
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Reggae Man”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1994· 5 entries
Released album “House of Exile”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “16 Grandes Exitos”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Live”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Rub-a-Dub”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Reggae Classics: The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1993· 1 entry
Released album “The Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1992· 3 entries
Released album “Breakout”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Became the father to the Brazilian actress/singer Nabiyah Be through a relationship with the psychologist Sônia Gomes
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “La légende”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1991· 1 entry
Performed at the second Rock in Rio festival in Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1990· 3 entries
Performing "John Crow" with the Jimmy Cliff Band
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Gold Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Fundamental Reggay”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1989· 2 entries
Released album “Images”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Save Our Planet Earth”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1987· 2 entries
Released ep “Shout For Freedom”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Hanging Fire”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1986· 2 entries
Awarded Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for Cliff Hanger (1986).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Released album “Reggae Greats”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1985· 2 entries
Released album “Cliff Hanger”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Cliff contributed to the song "Sun City", a protest song written and composed by Steven Van Zandt and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to express opposition to the South African policy of apartheid
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1984· 1 entry
Appeared at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, Netherlands
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1983· 1 entry
Released album “The Power and the Glory”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1982· 1 entry
Released album “Special”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1981· 2 entries
Released album “Give the People What They Want”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Star Collection”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1980· 1 entry
Released album “I Am the Living”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1979· 1 entry
Released album “Oh, Jamaica”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1978· 1 entry
Released album “Give Thankx”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1976· 3 entries
Cliff sang "The Harder They Come", "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Wahjahka Man" on the first season of Saturday Night Live, episode 12, hosted by Dick Cavett
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Follow My Mind”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1975· 1 entry
Released album “Brave Warrior”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1974· 1 entry
Released album “Music Maker”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1973· 3 entries
Released album “Unlimited”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Pop Chronik”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Struggling Man”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1972· 1 entry
Cliff starred as Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin (known as Rhyging) in Perry Henzell's classic reggae film The Harder They Come
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1971· 2 entries
Released album “Another Cycle”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Wild World”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1970· 1 entry
And placed his music in popular films including the 1988 hit Cocktail, which featured his song "Shelter of Your Love"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1969· 2 entries
Released album “Jimmy Cliff / Wonderful World, Beautiful People”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
By "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "Vietnam" in 1970, both popular throughout most of the world
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1967· 2 entries
Released ep “Give and Take”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Released album “Hard Road to Travel”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1964· 1 entry
Was chosen as one of Jamaica's representatives at the 1964 New York World's Fair
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1962· 1 entry
Released album “The Ska Singles 1961 - 1962”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1944· 1 entry
Born 1944-07-30.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth