Reggae legend Sly Dunbar, who played with everyone from Bob Marley to The Rolling Stones, has died at the age of 73. One of the genre's most revered drummers, he played on tracks such as Bob Marley's Punky Reggae Party and Dave and Ansell Collins' classic, Double Barrel.
However, he was better known as half of the production team Sly & Robbie - who produced groundbreaking hits for everyone from Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru, to non-reggae acts like Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, and Ian Dury.
Dunbar's death was first reported by his wife, Thelma, who told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner she had found him unresponsive on Monday morning. The musician's agent and publicist confirmed the news to the BBC.
Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Kingston, Jamaica, he started out playing on tin cans after watching Lloyd Knibbs and the Skatalites on television. In his teens, Dunbar met bassist Robbie Shakespeare and formed the rhythm section of the Revolutionaries, who became regular session musicians at the famed Channel One recording studio.
In the 1970s, they worked with major reggae acts and earned a reputation for updating the sound of reggae by incorporating more electronic instruments and textures. Taxi Records, their production company founded in 1980, nurtured new Jamaican artists and extended Dunbar's reach into pop and rock music.
An exact cause of death has not been disclosed, though reports indicate he had been ill for some time. His wife shared that days before his passing, Dunbar had enjoyed a lively day with friends and had been eating well. Music tributes pour in, including from British DJ David Rodigan, who hailed Dunbar as an iconic drummer.
However, he was better known as half of the production team Sly & Robbie - who produced groundbreaking hits for everyone from Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru, to non-reggae acts like Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, and Ian Dury.
Dunbar's death was first reported by his wife, Thelma, who told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner she had found him unresponsive on Monday morning. The musician's agent and publicist confirmed the news to the BBC.
Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Kingston, Jamaica, he started out playing on tin cans after watching Lloyd Knibbs and the Skatalites on television. In his teens, Dunbar met bassist Robbie Shakespeare and formed the rhythm section of the Revolutionaries, who became regular session musicians at the famed Channel One recording studio.
In the 1970s, they worked with major reggae acts and earned a reputation for updating the sound of reggae by incorporating more electronic instruments and textures. Taxi Records, their production company founded in 1980, nurtured new Jamaican artists and extended Dunbar's reach into pop and rock music.
An exact cause of death has not been disclosed, though reports indicate he had been ill for some time. His wife shared that days before his passing, Dunbar had enjoyed a lively day with friends and had been eating well. Music tributes pour in, including from British DJ David Rodigan, who hailed Dunbar as an iconic drummer.
