Legendary Jamaican drummer of Bob Marley, Lowell “Sly” Dunbar have been reported to have passed away at the age of 73. The Jamaican drummer revamped drumming in reggae music. According to his wife, he died around 7 am January 26.
During an interview with the media, The Jamaica Gleaner, the wife, Thelma, said,
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 did not reveal the cause of death but mentioned that Dunbar had been ill for an extended period. Dunbar was born on May 10, 1952, in Kingston, Jamaica. As part of the duo Sly & Robbie, he and bassist Robbie Shakespeare—who passed away in 2021—were among the most in-demand rhythm sections of their era.
Sly & Robbie contributed significantly to classic reggae albums, including Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It,” the Mighty Diamonds’ “Right Time,” and Black Uhuru’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” They also provided instrumental support for renowned artists such as Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, Mick Jagger, and Serge Gainsbourg.
Furthermore, Sly & Robbie played a pivotal role in the development of dancehall music, creating the iconic Bam Bam riddim, which served as the foundation for some of the genre’s earliest hit singles.
Dunbar and Shakespeare won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album (then called Best Reggae Recording) in 1985, the award’s inaugural year, for their work on Black Uhuru’s Anthem, and again in 1999 for the Sly & Robbie album Friend.