Reggae star Jimmy Cliff of Many Rivers to Cross fame dead at 81

Jamaican reggae pioneer and actor Jimmy Cliff has died at at the age of 81, according to his family.

In social media posts Monday morning , they say the tenor-voiced singer behind such classics as Many Rivers to Cross, You Can Get it If You Really Want and Vietnam died from a “seizure followed by pneumonia.” Article content Article content

More information was not immediately available.

“To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career,” his family said in part.

“He really appreciated each and every fan for their love.” Article content

Cliff was a teenager when he became part of Kingston’s burgeoning music scene in the ‘60s and became a leader in a group that included such future stars as Bob Marley , Toots Hibbert an