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The iconic Jamaican singer covered Yusuf’s 1970 hit “Wild World” and the two worked together on Cliff’s single “Trapped” in 1972<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\tYusuf<\/a>\/Cat Stevens<\/a> has paid tribute<\/a> to Jimmy Cliff<\/a>, calling the reggae<\/a> pioneer a \u201cpowerful presence in my life\u201d after the iconic Jamaican singer\u2019s family announced his death <\/a>aged 81.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHe always seemed to be there at crucial stages on my journey,\u201d Stevens wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. \u201cWe had success together in the early days with \u2018Wild World,\u2019 we bumped into each other by strange and wonderful coincidence on pilgrimage in Mecca, and we also connected at the Mandela 46664 concert that marked my return to mainstream music.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cGOD BLESS HIM,\u201d Stevens added, sharing an old personal photo of the pair. \u201cHis songs always had some message of peace \u2014\u00a0may he find it now and forever.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAlthough the two men weren\u2019t frequent collaborators, Cliff\u2019s cover of Steven\u2019s 1970 \u201cWild World\u201d was one of his early international hits, securing a Top 10 singles spot in the United Kingdom. <\/p>\n \n\tTwo years later, Stevens produced Cliff\u2019s song \u201cTrapped\u201d for his compilation album, Goodbye Yesterday<\/em>. The song went mainstream in the 1980s thanks to Bruce Springsteen, who began covering it during his live sets, transforming it into a rock tune.\u00a0<\/p>\n