Reggae legend Sly Dunbar passes away aged 73

More sad new for reggae lovers - little over two months ago we lost the great Jimmy Cliff, Third World co-founder Stephen “Cat” Coore left us on Sunday and just hours later, it was confirmed that drumming legend Lowell “Sly” Dunbar, best known as one half of the iconic production duo Sly and Robbie has passed away. His wife Thelma Dunbar confirmed the sad news. He was 73 years of age.

Sly Dunbar had been ill for some time

“About seven o’clock this morning I went to wake him up and he wasn’t responding. I called the doctor and that was the news,” she told Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner. “Yesterday was such a good day for him. He had friends come over to visit him and we all had such a good time. He ate well yesterday... sometimes he’s not into food. I knew he was sick... but I didn’t know that he was this sick,”

Drum and bass masters

Born on May 10, 1952 in Kingston, Dunbar began playing drums at 15 with The Yardbrooms, later joining Skin, Flesh & Bones, led by Ansell Collins. His first recorded appearance was on Dave and Ansell Collins’ album Double Barrel released in 1971.

The following year he met bass player Robbie Shakespeare and the two musicians formed an instant connection, going on to become the hottest rhythm section in Jamaica, collaborating with Peter Tosh and recording five albums as a duo.

Rub a dub stylee, the sound of young Jamaica in the 80s

Sly and Robbie set up the Taxi record label in 1980 and produced some of the most iconic hits of the decade including records for artists such as Gwen Guthrie, Black Uhuru, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker and Chaka Demus.

He was nominated for 13 Grammys during his career as a musician and producer and won two: for Black Uhuru’s ‘Anthem’ in 1985 and the 1999 album ‘Friends’.

His sidekick Robbie Shakespeare passed away from kidney failure in Miami in 2021.

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