Legendary reggae drummer Sly Dunbar, singer of songs including Bob Marley and Bob Dylan, dies at 73

Two-time Grammy Award-winning reggae drummer Sly Dunbar has penned countless tracks bob marley arrive bob dylan Sly & Robbie, one half of the influential reggae rhythm group, have died. He is 73 years old.

Dunbar’s wife, selmadeclared dead jamaica Gleaner.

Dunbar and bassist Sly & Robbie (also known as the Riddim Twins) played reggae classics from Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh, and attracted attention from the likes of Grace Jones and the Rolling Stones as far away as Jamaica.

Sly and Robbie played on three Jones albums – Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing and Living My Life – as well as four Serge Gainsbourg albums and three Dylan albums: 1983’s Infidels, 1985’s Empire Burlesque and 1988’s Down in the Groove.

“Words can’t describe how heartbroken I am to hear the news that my friend and legend has passed away,” UB40 singer Ali Campbell posted on Facebook. “Without the influence of reggae and dancehall din that Sly pioneered, modern beats simply wouldn’t be what they are today.”

Rolling Stone magazine wrote in its tribute: “Sly and Robbie are undisputed masters of the art, bringing a nuanced, unhurried, rock-solid approach to rhythm.” Shakespeare died in 2021.

Dunbar played with the house band Revolutionaries at Channel One Studios in Jamaica during the tour and performed Junior Murvin’s “Police and Thieves,” Maxi Priest’s “Easy to Love,” Dave and Ansell Collins’ classic “Double Barrel” and Marley’s “Punky Reggae Party.”

He has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards and won twice – the first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985 for Black Uhuru’s “Anthem” and Best Reggae Album in 1999 for Sly & Robbie’s “Friends”.

In 1980, Sly and Robbie co-founded Taxi Records, which produced artists such as Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Skip Marley, Beenie Man and Red Dragon.

“When you buy a reggae record, there’s a 90 percent chance the drummer is Sly Dunbar,” producer Brian Eno said at the New York New Music Festival in 1979. “You would think Sly Dunbar was locked in a seat in a studio somewhere in Jamaica, but in fact, his drum sounds are so interesting that people use them time and time again.”