Sly Dunbar, the Jamaican drumming legend behind countless global hits with his Sly and Robbie duo, has sadly passed away at the age of 73. Found unresponsive by his wife Thelma on Monday morning, doctors later confirmed that he had died.
Dunbar's impact on music was undeniable, as one half of production duo Sly and Robbie who played on thousands of recordings across multiple decades with an astonishing range of artists, from reggae icons like Black Uhuru and Bunny Wailer to pop stars such as Mick Jagger and No Doubt. The iconic sessions included his collaborations with the likes of Chaka Demus & Pliers, Grace Jones, Bob Dylan, and even Ian Dury.
Dunbar's groundbreaking style, marked by his shuffling "rockers" drum pattern, influenced a whole swathe of roots reggae music in the 1970s. His work with bassist Robbie Shakespeare formed the backbone of influential group the Revolutionaries, who became key backing bands for Jamaican reggae acts.
Dunbar's versatility and innovative approach led to an array of critically acclaimed albums, including four releases by Serge Gainsbourg and two by Bob Dylan. He also backed numerous high-profile artists such as Joe Cocker and Gwen Guthrie.
As part of Sly and Robbie, Dunbar was a driving force in shaping the sound of 1980s dancehall with hits like "Tease Me" and "Murder She Wrote." His later collaborations included working on Fugees album The Score, simply Red's cover of Night Nurse, and producing hits for No Doubt including Underneath it All and Hey Baby.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dunbar was a 13-time Grammy nominee, taking home two awards. Tributes poured in from fellow musicians, with UB40 musician Ali Campbell describing him as "my friend and legend" following the news of his passing.
Dunbar's impact on music was undeniable, as one half of production duo Sly and Robbie who played on thousands of recordings across multiple decades with an astonishing range of artists, from reggae icons like Black Uhuru and Bunny Wailer to pop stars such as Mick Jagger and No Doubt. The iconic sessions included his collaborations with the likes of Chaka Demus & Pliers, Grace Jones, Bob Dylan, and even Ian Dury.
Dunbar's groundbreaking style, marked by his shuffling "rockers" drum pattern, influenced a whole swathe of roots reggae music in the 1970s. His work with bassist Robbie Shakespeare formed the backbone of influential group the Revolutionaries, who became key backing bands for Jamaican reggae acts.
Dunbar's versatility and innovative approach led to an array of critically acclaimed albums, including four releases by Serge Gainsbourg and two by Bob Dylan. He also backed numerous high-profile artists such as Joe Cocker and Gwen Guthrie.
As part of Sly and Robbie, Dunbar was a driving force in shaping the sound of 1980s dancehall with hits like "Tease Me" and "Murder She Wrote." His later collaborations included working on Fugees album The Score, simply Red's cover of Night Nurse, and producing hits for No Doubt including Underneath it All and Hey Baby.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dunbar was a 13-time Grammy nominee, taking home two awards. Tributes poured in from fellow musicians, with UB40 musician Ali Campbell describing him as "my friend and legend" following the news of his passing.
just heard about Sly Dunbar's passing... what a legend 
he played with so many iconic artists & helped shape some incredible sounds in reggae & beyond! his shuffling drum pattern is still getting used by producers today 
i remember hearing "Tease Me" & "Murder She Wrote" back in the day & being blown away by how infectious those beats were 
can't believe he's gone, but what a legacy he leaves behind... 2 Grammy awards isn't bad either 
just heard about Sly Dunbar's passing 
my heart goes out to Thelma and their family... what a legendary career he had, working with so many iconic artists 
from reggae to pop, rock, and dancehall, his impact on music is still felt today 
his influence on roots reggae in the 70s can't be overstated 
and can you believe he worked with Bob Dylan? 
that's pure magic 
anyway, rest in peace to a music legend 
think about all the iconic artists he worked with, from reggae legends to pop icons... his influence still lives on in music today 
that's sad to hear about Sly Dunbar he was one talented drummer 
rest in peace he had an amazing career spanning decades and collaborated with so many legendary artists 
, I mean who else could play alongside Mick Jagger? 
he brought this special energy to every session, it's crazy to think of all those iconic recordings he helped make 
Sly and Robbie are a duo that always brings the vibes, but without Dunbar's drumming, it just wouldn't be the same 
. I mean, who else could say they've worked with Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan? Genius at work! The way he blended different styles is still a major influence in music today 
I'm still listening to some of those old recordings and it's crazy how he could make you move your body with just his drums. I'm more of a chill vibes kinda guy myself, but there's something about that rockers pattern that just gets me pumped up 
