Iconic reggae drummer Sly Dunbar, who was one-half of the influential reggae rhythm section Sly & Robbie, has passed away. He was 73.
Dunbar’s wife, Thelma, confirmed his passing to the Jamaica Gleaner.
“About 7 o’clock this morning, I went to wake him up, and he wasn’t responding. I called the doctor, and that was the news,” Thelma said through her tears.
Yesterday was such a good day for him, and he had friends come over to visit him.
Thelma continued. “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.”
Ali Campbell of UB40 paid tribute to Dunbar on Facebook.
“Words cannot describe how heartbroken I am to hear of the passing of my friend and legend,” singer Campbell said. “Modern-day beats simply wouldn’t be what they are without the influence of reggae and dancehall riddims that Sly single-handedly pioneered.”
Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar Born on May 10, 1952, he first appeared on the Dave and Ansell Collins album Double Barrel. He began playing drums at the age of 15 with The Yardbrooms. Later on, joined the Ansell Collins-led band Skin, Flesh & Bones.
Forming ‘Sly And Robbie”
Dunbar would transform reggae and dancehall with his musical partner, bassist Robbie Shakespeare. They met in 1972, when Shakespeare recommended Sly to producer Bunny Lee as a potential session drummer for the Aggrovators. They began working with Peter Tosh and his band in 1981, recording five albums.
Sly and Robbie formed the Taxi Records label in 1982. The label launched the careers of Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ini Kamoze, Beenie Man, and Red Dragon.
The dynamic duo played on three Grace Jones albums. They also worked with Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, and The Rolling Stones.
Shakespeare passed on December 8, 2021, in Miami, Florida, at the age of 68.
Receiving many honors throughout his career, Dunbar was honored by the Jamaican Government with the Order of Distinction. He was also awarded the Musgrave Gold Medal by the Institute of Jamaica in 2015 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota in May 2025.