SINGER

Jimmy Cliff

1948 - 2025

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James Chambers (30 July 1944 – 24 November 2025), 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 for achievements in the arts and sciences. He was also nominated seven times for the Grammy Awards, winning twice. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 38 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 37 in 2024). Jimmy Cliff is the 296th most popular singer (up from 324th in 2024), the 10th most popular biography from Jamaica (down from 8th in 2019) and the 3rd most popular Jamaican Singer.

Jimmy Cliff is most famous for being a pioneering reggae musician and for his iconic role as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin in the 1972 cult classic film The Harder They Come. His soundtrack contributions, especially the songs "The Harder They Come" and "Many Rivers to Cross", helped introduce reggae to a global audience.

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Among SINGERS

Among singers, Jimmy Cliff ranks 296 out of 4,381. Before him are Christa Ludwig, Connie Francis, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Peng Liyuan, André Claveau, and Travis Scott. After him are Mario Lanza, Sezen Aksu, Ben E. King, Rashid Behbudov, Karen Carpenter, and Ajda Pekkan.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1948, Jimmy Cliff ranks 113. Before him are Akira Yoshino, Randy Schekman, Krešimir Ćosić, James Ellroy, Mischa Maisky, and George Abela. After him are Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Pedro López, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, Carel Struycken, Don Airey, and Jesper Christensen. Among people deceased in 2025, Jimmy Cliff ranks 92. Before him are Joan Plowright, Terence Stamp, Michael Madsen, Akinori Nakayama, Connie Francis, and Dag Solstad. After him are James Foley, Stanley Fischer, Björn Andrésen, Friðrik Ólafsson, Hossein Salami, and Zurab Tsereteli.

Others Born in 1948

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In Jamaica

Among people born in Jamaica, Jimmy Cliff ranks 10 out of 189. Before him are John Barnes (1963), Ben Johnson (1961), Usain Bolt (1986), Patrick Allen (1951), Max Romeo (1944), and Peter Tosh (1944). After him are Marcus Garvey (1887), Violet Brown (1900), Stuart Hall (1932), Liz Mitchell (1952), Lee "Scratch" Perry (1936), and Trevor Berbick (1954).

Others born in Jamaica

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Among SINGERS In Jamaica

Among singers born in Jamaica, Jimmy Cliff ranks 3. Before him are Grace Jones (1948), and Max Romeo (1944). After him are Liz Mitchell (1952), Millie Small (1947), Jacob Miller (1952), Cedella Booker (1926), Shaggy (1968), Bunny Wailer (1947), Burning Spear (1945), Carl Douglas (1942), and Gregory Isaacs (1951).

Jamaican born Singers

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