Jimmy Cliff, a musical artist who helped bring reggae to an international audience, has died aged 81.

Known for hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want, The Harder They Come, and Many Rivers To Cross, his career spanned six decades.

His wife, Latifa Chambers wrote on Instagram: “It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.

“I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him.

“To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love.”

Thanking the medical staff who helped during his illness, she added: “Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes.”

Signed by his wife, and two of his children, Latifa and Lilty, the statement concluded: “We see you Legend.”

Tributes to the singer included those from Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, calling him “a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world… Jimmy Cliff told our story with honesty and soul. His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations, and helped to shape the global respect that Jamaican culture enjoys today.”

UB40 star Ali Campbell, who covered Cliff’s song Many Rivers To Cross in 1983, also paid tribute, saying he was “absolutely heartbroken to hear about the passing of a Reggae forefather” in a post on X.

Campbell also called Cliff “a pillar of our music, and one of the first to carry reggae out into the world”.

A legend of music and screen

A two-time Grammy-winning artist, Cliff was awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit in 2003, the highest honour in the arts and sciences, from the Jamaican government.

Over the years, he would work with stars including the Rolling Stones, Sting, Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox, Paul Simon and Wyclef Jean.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

A prolific writer, frequently expressing his humanitarian views through his work, his 1969 track Vietnam was reportedly described by Bob Dylan as “the best protest song” he had ever heard.

Cliff was also well known for cover versions of songs, including Johnny Nash’s I Can See Clearly Now, which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 movie Cool Runnings, and Cat Stevens’ Wild World.

He twice performed on high-profile US chat show Saturday Night Live.

An actor and a musician, as well as singing the title track of 1972 cult classic The Harder They Come, Cliff also starred in it.

One of the first major commercial releases to come out of Jamaica, the movie is credited with bringing reggae to the world, as well as showing a grittier and more realistic side to the country.

During this time, Cliff’s fame rivalled Bob Marley as the reggae’s most prominent artist.

The storyline, which revolved around Cliff’s character, Ivan, moving to Kingston, Jamaica, to make it as a musical superstar, had parallels with his own.

‘Hurricane Hattie’

He was born James Chambers, during a hurricane, on 30 July 1944, in St James Parish, northwestern Jamaica.

In the 1950s, he moved with his father from the family farm to Kingston, determined to succeed in the music industry.

He began writing as Jamaica was gaining its independence from Britain, and as the early sounds of reggae – first called ska – were being developed.

At just 14, he became nationally famous for the song Hurricane Hattie, which he had written himself.

Cliff would go on to record over 30 albums and perform all over the world, including in Paris, in Brazil and at the World’s Fair, an international exhibition held in New York in 1964.

The following year, Island Records’ Chris Blackwell, the producer who launched Bob Marley And The Wailers, invited Cliff to work in the UK.

‘I still have many rivers to cross!’

Speaking about his burning passion for life during a 2019 interview, when the star had begun losing his sight, Cliff said: “When I’ve achieved all my ambitions, then I guess that I will have done it and I can just say ‘great’.

“But I’m still hungry. I want it. I’ve still got the burning fire that burns brightly inside of me – like I just said to you. I still have many rivers to cross!”

Cliff’s last studio album, Refugees, made with Wyclef Jean, was released in 2022, and the singer said he wrote the title track “due to emotional feelings towards freedom taken away from human beings”.

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen received an automatic one-game suspension after getting ejected from his second game in a three-game span.

Rantanen received a game misconduct late in the second period of Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames after boarding forward Matt Coronato from behind. Coronato was able to finish the game, but Calgary coach Ryan Huska called it “a terrible hit.”

The NHL Department of Player Safety chose not to have a hearing for Rantanen following his latest infraction, according to sources, and instead relied on Rule 23.6 of the NHL rulebook which mandates an automatic one-game suspension for any player who receives a total of two game misconduct penalties in the “Physical Infractions Category” within 41 consecutive regular-season games.

The suspension will bench Rantanen for Tuesday night’s matchup in Edmonton against the Oilers, a rematch of last year’s Western Conference final, which the Oilers won in five games.

Rantanen, 29, is tied with Jason Robertson for the team lead with 28 points over 22 games (10 goals, 18 assists). With his two ejections, he now leads the team with a whopping 57 penalty minutes.

Saturday’s hit was the latest in a tough week for Rantanen.

In last Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Islanders, the Stars winger was also ejected late in the game after boarding defenseman Alexander Romanov. That play drew the ire of Islanders coach Patrick Roy, who went on a profane tirade as Rantanen left the ice, then later called the hit “disrespectful.”

“I’m going to say is [that] when you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don’t go through the guy,” Roy said after the game. “I was in Colorado when [Rantanen] was drafted there. It’s not his style. But at the same time, that should not be part of our game.”

Romanov will have shoulder surgery and is expected to be out five to six months, the Islanders said Sunday.

Rantanen has no history of supplemental discipline over his 11-year-career, which has spanned Colorado, Carolina and now Dallas. Rantanen’s only noted history with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety before this suspension was an embellishment fine.

NEW YORK — Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will be out for five to six months following surgery on his right shoulder, the team said Sunday.

The injury to the 25-year-old Romanov occurred Tuesday in Dallas in the final minute of regulation when he was hit from behind by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen.

Romanov, who had to be helped from the ice, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. He has one assist in 15 games this season. He signed an eight-year, $50 million contract last summer.

“He’s not happy,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said before Sunday’s 1-0 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. “We have to move on. We don’t replace a player like that.”

Roy said the team would rely on Adam Boqvist and Marshall Warren in place of the speedy Romanov.

“You hope that the guys coming in will fit it and hopefully that Boqvist will play like he’s been playing,” Roy said of his defense corps, which has been bolstered by 18-year-old rookie standout Matthew Schaefer.

Rantanen received a five-minute boarding penalty and game misconduct, but no additional discipline from the league for the hit on Romanov. He was suspended for one game earlier Sunday following a hit on Calgary‘s Matt Coronato during Saturday’s game.

Roy was furious after Rantanen’s hit on Romanov and yelled at the Dallas player as he went to the locker room through a tunnel between the benches.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended his player because he believed Rantanen’s skate was clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, causing him to raise his arms for balance just before contact with Romanov.

Rantanen said he did not intend to injure Romanov. He is in his first full season with Dallas after getting traded twice last season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.