Reggae Icon Jimmy Cliff Passes Away — Statement from His Family

Messages of grief and gratitude are pouring in around the world, as the family of reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff shares an emotional update on social media.

The world is reeling after reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff died at 81, his grieving family confirmed in a heartfelt Instagram message posted November 23, 2025.

The somber announcement came from his wife, Latifa Chambers. "To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career," she wrote. "He really appreciated each and every fan for their love."

The message — signed by Chambers, their children Lilty, and Aken — also added: "Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes." The family also requested privacy, adding that more details would be shared in time.

Tributes Flow for the Man Who Carried Reggae Worldwide

Tributes poured in from around the globe. UB40 frontman Ali Campbell expressed sadness on X, calling Cliff a foundational figure in reggae and praising his role in bringing the genre to international audiences. He ended his message with a heartfelt farewell and signature of affection.

Reggae enthusiasts and fellow artists echoed the sentiment across social media. On Instagram, renowned music photographer and creative director Marcos Hermes called him simply: "Legend, icon !!!! Rest in Peace 🙏🏼."

Dancer and choreographer Christina A. González added, "🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤💐💐💐💐💐💐 Stay strong Mrs Cliff and rest well Sir Cliff [sic]." A digital reggae platform, Reggae To Day, also paid tribute in Portuguese, "Obrigado por tudo, Jimmy. Um dos pioneiros no reggae 💚❤️🖤😢."

As messages continued to pour in, Chambers later revealed that her husband had suffered a seizure, which was followed by pneumonia.

She extended her gratitude to Dr. Couceyro and the medical team for their support during his final days. The family concluded their message on social media, "See you and we see you, Legend."

Life and Career of a Reggae Trailblazer

Many had since reflected on Cliff's beginnings. Born James Chambers in Somerton District, St. James, Jamaica, he entered the world under severe weather conditions that destroyed his family's home.

Reflecting on those early days, Cliff once said the timing of his birth felt meaningful. "I feel like there's something magical about everything," he shared on his official website. He added:

"When my mother was pregnant, she had such a huge stomach that everyone thought she was carrying triplets! That's why people initially said I was special. In school, I was already doing magic tricks. I don't know how I learned them. I could also read palms. Nobody taught me how to do that either. There are so many stories like that in my life. The fact that I came out of that hurricane felt significant to me."

At the age of 14, he recorded his first hit, "Hurricane Hattie," marking the beginning of a career that would go on to influence generations.

A Voice That Carried Reggae Across the World

Cliff earned international recognition with enduring songs such as "Many Rivers to Cross," "You Can Get It If You Really Want," "Wonderful World, Beautiful People," and "I Can See Clearly Now."

Over the years, he received two Grammy Awards, including Best Reggae Album for "Rebirth" at the 55th Annual Grammys, and was nominated seven times throughout his career.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joining Bob Marley as one of only two Jamaican artists to receive that honor.

Musicians across genres covered Cliff's work. Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Cher, and Fiona Apple all performed his songs, while Bob Dylan once described his protest anthem "Vietnam" as "the greatest protest song ever written."

His cultural influence extended beyond music. Cliff appeared in several films, including "Club Paradise," "Marked for Death," and "Muscle Shoals," but it was his defining role in the 1972 classic "The Harder They Come."

From Humble Beginnings to Global Icon

Behind the global fame was a childhood shaped by discipline and resilience. Cliff grew up in a Christian household with nine siblings.

In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, he described his father as a strict disciplinarian and recalled how others around him believed he should only sing religious songs. Cliff credited his grandmother with nurturing his early love of music. He said:

"I was always singing – but I was told I was singing the songs of the devil. My grandmother, though, always said: 'Leave the boy alone. He's going to come to something one day.'"

Later in life, Cliff reunited with his birth mother, whom he had not seen since infancy. After reconnecting, they built a close relationship, and he eventually bought her a home in St. James.

As a father, Cliff passed on the values he had learned as a child — cleanliness, honesty, and discipline — but chose not to raise his children in organized religion. "I just try to tell them the path of right and wrong," he explained.

Besides his two kids with Chambers, Cliff also had a daughter from a previous relationship — actor and singer Nabiyah Be, best known for playing Simone Jackson in the hit series "Daisy Jones & the Six."

In later years, Cliff remained closely connected to his family, continuing to pass on the values that shaped both his life and legacy. "I have a career, which is important, but my family is the priority. First family, and then career. It's a delicate balance," he said.

Meanwhile, another community is grieving the loss of a different kind of hero — one who inspired through strength and perseverance.

Former NBA forward and Wake Forest basketball icon Rodney Rogers has passed away at 54. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by his wife, Faye Rogers, who shared a deeply personal and moving statement.

Wake Forest Athletics, where Rogers built his early legacy, also confirmed the news, honoring him as "one of the most transformative players in program history."

"He made his transition peacefully, surrounded by the endless love of his devoted wife, Faye," his wife's statement read, a rare look into the tender final chapter of a man whose presence was once as commanding as his heart was steady.

A Crash That Changed Everything

Rogers' life took a tragic and irrevocable turn on November 28, 2008. While riding dirt bikes with a friend, he was flung over the handlebars and into a ditch he hadn't seen in time to brake.

The impact shattered the C3 and C4 vertebrae in his neck, leaving him instantly paralyzed from the neck down. It was a moment that marked the end of one kind of career — and the beginning of another life entirely.

He was rushed to Duke Hospital before being transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where doctors stabilized his blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.

The road ahead was grueling. Months of intensive rehabilitation followed, along with a complete reliance on medical care. But through it all, Rogers fought.

Eighteen Years of Resilience and Quiet Strength

Returning to Durham just three months after the crash, Rogers slowly began to adapt to a new reality — one that required constant care — and a deep well of courage. His wife stood by him every step of the way.

Even in paralysis, Rogers' voice never went silent. He became a powerful advocate for spinal cord injury awareness and resilience, showing the same grit off the court that once defined his play.

In a 2013 interview with the ACC Network, when asked what he wanted people to take from his journey, he grinned and said, "It's hard to keep a good man down."

From Durham Bull to NBA Sixth Man

Meanwhile, before the accident, Rogers had been a fearsome presence on the court. Nicknamed the "Durham Bull" during his high school days, he burst onto the college basketball scene at Wake Forest in the early 1990s. He was named ACC Freshman of the Year in 1991, First Team All-ACC in 1992, and ACC Player of the Year in 1993 after leading the Demon Deacons to the Sweet 16.

According to the university, he remains the only player in Wake Forest history to receive both major ACC honors. Rogers left Wake Forest after his junior season and entered the NBA Draft, where the Denver Nuggets claimed him with the ninth pick in 1993. His career stretched across seven teams and a dozen seasons, during which he averaged 11 points a night.

One of his brightest peaks came in 2000, when his spark off the Phoenix Suns' bench earned him the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. He retired in 2005.

Wake Forest Remembers Its Giant

However, his impact went far beyond stats. In a 2018 tribute video, former teammate Jason Kidd described him as the type of player who "was kind of your bodyguard," commending both his toughness and shooting finesse.

Eddie Johnson praised his unmatched versatility, while Stephon Marbury highlighted the way defenders had to guard him far beyond the arc.

In 2022, the university recognized him with its Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, a pair of honors meant to acknowledge not only his impact on the court but the resolve he showed long after leaving it.

After Rogers' death on November 21 from natural causes related to the catastrophic spinal cord injury from the dirt bike accident, his wife noted how the Wake Forest and NBA communities had quietly carried their family through the hardest moments.

Current and former Wake Forest leaders have also emphasized the magnitude of his impact. In statements published by the school's athletics department, Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie credited Rogers with dramatically advancing the university's trajectory.

President Susan R. Wente further emphasized the strength and humility he carried into every part of his life. And in remembering him, former head coach Dave Odom said athletes of his stature were exceedingly uncommon in the ACC.

Rogers' Number 54 jersey remains retired at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, a permanent tribute to his irreplaceable role in Wake Forest history.

A Family's Loss, a Community's Mourning

Shortly after his passing, the NBA honored him across its social platforms, sharing messages that reflected the widespread admiration and gratitude he inspired throughout the basketball community.

Aside from his wife, Rogers' family includes his daughters, Roddreka and Rydeiah; his sons, Rodney II, Devonte, and Eric; and his mother, Estelle Spencer, all of whom carry his memory forward.

The university's athletic department expressed its sympathy to the family and to everyone who drew inspiration from Rogers' life and career.

His passing closes a remarkable chapter, but the legacy he built — in competition, in recovery, and in every moment that demanded strength — will endure.