The small community of Somerton in Jamaica found itself cloaked in sorrow and rain on Monday, November 24, 2025, as it mourned the passing of one of its most beloved sons, reggae icon James 'Jimmy Cliff' Chambers. For many, the dark clouds that hung over St James parish seemed to mirror the grief felt by residents, who remembered Cliff not only as a global superstar but as a neighbor and friend who never forgot his roots.
Jimmy Cliff’s journey from rural Jamaica to the world stage is the stuff of legend, but his story is also one of steadfast loyalty and quiet generosity. Born James Chambers, he grew up in Somerton, a community known for producing national figures such as former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and playwright Lenny Little-white. Yet, as childhood friend 'Skillman' told Jamaica Gleaner, none stood taller in the hearts of Somerton’s people than Jimmy Cliff. “Me and Jimmy were best friends from childhood. We grew together, go to school together, go a bird bush together, and go to mango bush together. On the weekends, we would go to show (movies) out a di crossroad,” Skillman remembered, his voice heavy with loss.
Even after Cliff left Somerton to chase his dreams, the bond between the two friends endured. “He never ever came to Somerton and don’t check me. When mi mother dead, him come to de funeral; when my sister dead, him come a de funeral. We were always very close over the years,” Skillman said. Cliff’s generosity was legendary, but it was often quiet and personal. He bought Skillman his last pair of prescription glasses—costing more than $60,000—and helped his children with back-to-school needs. “He was the kind of friend that everyone would love to have. He was the best,” Skillman added.
Cliff’s kindness extended far beyond his childhood companions. Yvonne ‘Pam’ Mckenzie, Skillman’s spouse, described him as someone who always answered whenever they called, no matter where in the world he was. After Hurricane Melissa battered the region and crippled telecommunications, she sent him a message to check on him. “He did not respond to the text message, which was unlike him, so I became a bit concerned,” she said. “Words cannot express the type of person he was. He was such a great guy. He is a legend. Di whole Somerton love him. He has done a lot for Somerton. He has helped out at the school, supported sports, helped the youngsters with chicken rearing and even fixed the road; he really did good for Somerton.”
For many in the community, Jimmy Cliff was a steady hand and a quiet benefactor. He supported the local school, youth projects, sports programmes, and even contributed to road repairs. A teacher at Somerton All-age, who preferred to remain unnamed, told Jamaica Gleaner, “He has done a lot for the community, for the children and the elderly, especially. He helped to fix the roads, made tangible donations to community events, bought books and school supplies. He has done a lot, and Somerton will really miss him.” The timing of his death, coming so soon after Hurricane Melissa, was a double blow for the community. “His death right after the passing of the hurricane is a double whammy, because he would be one of the persons we would be looking towards to help us to rebuild the school,” the teacher noted.
Neighbor Tanya Langott, wiping away tears, recalled Cliff as a quiet, reserved presence who cherished simple moments with his children. “When he is here, you hardly know, unless you hear like they are practising (playing music) and all of that, but he was a very private person,” she said. “He was a very good neighbour ... . We respected him a lot, he has done so much for the community.”
While Somerton grieves, the world remembers Jimmy Cliff for his indelible mark on music and culture. Cliff moved to Kingston as a young man, determined to make his way in the music industry. According to The Daily Telegraph, he convinced restaurant owner Leslie Kong to become his first producer, a partnership that lasted until Kong’s death in 1971. Cliff’s move to the UK in his teens, on the advice of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, was fraught with struggle. “When I came to the UK, I was still in my teens. I came full of vigour: I’m going to make it, I’m going to be up there with the Beatles and the Stones,” Cliff recalled. “And it wasn’t really going like that. I was touring clubs, not breaking through. I was struggling with work, life, and my identity. I couldn’t find my place.”
It was these hardships—poverty, racism, and the unforgiving music industry—that inspired one of his most enduring songs, “Many Rivers to Cross.” The song’s message of struggle, perseverance, and hope resonated with listeners worldwide. As Cliff sang, “Many rivers to cross / And it’s only my will that keeps me alive / I’ve been licked, washed up for years / And I merely survive because of my pride.” The song would be covered by artists as varied as UB40, Cher, and John Lennon.
Cliff’s career soared in the 1970s with the release of the film The Harder They Come and its soundtrack, which is credited with bringing reggae music to international prominence. Rolling Stone ranks the album among its Top 500 Albums of All Time. Cliff’s hits—“I Can See Clearly Now,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” “Reggae Night,” and “Vietnam”—became anthems of hope and resilience. Unlike his contemporary Bob Marley, Cliff was not part of the Rastafari movement and never wore dreadlocks, but his music addressed similar themes of poverty, inequality, and perseverance. Where Marley raged against the system, Cliff’s lyrics often offered hope and a call to keep moving forward.
Jimmy Cliff’s influence on reggae is impossible to overstate. He helped shape the genre from its roots in ska, mento, and rocksteady, and his music offered a sense of celebration and optimism in the years following Jamaica’s independence. While comparisons with Marley are inevitable, Cliff’s unique voice and message set him apart as a pioneer in his own right.
Back in Somerton, the question of Cliff’s final resting place remains. Skillman hopes the government will allow Cliff to be buried in his hometown, alongside his late father, or at the very least, that a monument will be erected in his honor. “We would want him to come home to Somerton to rest alongside his late father, but it is not our call. If he is buried at Heroes Park, I hope an appropriate monument will be built in Somerton in his honour,” he said.
As the rain-soaked community gathers to remember their hero, the legacy of Jimmy Cliff endures in the music that continues to inspire and in the countless acts of kindness that touched the lives of so many. For Somerton and for fans around the globe, Jimmy Cliff has indeed crossed his final river, but his spirit remains—etched in every note and every memory he leaves behind.
