Sly Dunbar, Iconic Jamaican Drummer and Producer, Dies at 73

2026-01-28 - 15:52

Legendary Jamaican drummer and Grammy-winning producer Lowell “Sly” Dunbar, one-half of the groundbreaking duo Sly and Robbie, has died at the age of 73. His passing was confirmed on Monday, marking the end of an era for reggae, dub, and dancehall music. Alongside bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who died in 2021, Dunbar formed what is widely regarded as the most influential rhythm section in Jamaican music history. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Sly and Robbie helped shape the global sound of Jamaican popular music, leaving an indelible mark on countless genres and generations of artists. Producer and recording and mixing engineer Rory Baker of the Taxi Records camp confirmed Dunbar’s death while travelling to the family’s home. Visibly shaken, Baker described the loss as deeply personal, noting that Dunbar was one of several mentors he had recently lost. “This is a major, major blow for me personally,” Baker said. “Mi three mentor dem gone back to back now. Robbie, then Cat Coore, and now Sly. All of them gone.” Dunbar is survived by his wife, Thelma, and his daughter. He had been battling health challenges for more than a decade, including chronic leg problems and complications arising from a slipped disc. Close friend and producer Albert “Burru” Blackwood remembered Dunbar as not only a musical giant but also a generous and deeply supportive individual. “He was one of the finest persons you could meet in music and in life,” Blackwood said. “Sly never hid information. If there was something you needed to know, he would tell you. Robbie brought me into music, and Sly gave me my first rhythm.” Blackwood recalled their long history together, from early studio sessions to touring logistics, and said he last spoke with Dunbar just days before his death. Although Dunbar had been unwell for several weeks, the news still hit hard. “I heard a lot of mourning and weeping this morning,” Blackwood said. “I did my crying from weeks ago, but I am really sad right now.” Dunbar’s career took shape in the early 1970s after he met Robbie Shakespeare, then a member of the Hippy Boys. Shakespeare introduced him to producer Bunny “Striker” Lee, leading Dunbar to join Lee’s house band, the Aggrovators. The musical chemistry between Dunbar and Shakespeare was immediate, and the pair soon committed to working together as a permanent unit. Throughout the 1970s, Sly and Robbie became the rhythmic backbone of Peter Tosh’s band, contributing to five albums before parting ways in 1981. During the same period, Dunbar also played with other foundational studio groups, including Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Upsetters and the Revolutionaries, while remaining a sought-after session drummer for top producers across Jamaica. His drumming appears on some of the most important recordings in reggae history, including Max Romeo’s Night Doctor, Junior Murvin’s Police and Thieves, and Bob Marley’s Punky Reggae Party. In 1980, Dunbar and Shakespeare officially launched Taxi Records, which quickly became one of the most influential labels of the dancehall era. Through Taxi, they produced and released music by artists such as Black Uhuru, Ini Kamoze, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Beenie Man, and Red Dragon, helping define the sound of Jamaican music throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Their work earned international acclaim. In 1985, they won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording as producers of Black Uhuru’s Anthem. Dunbar would go on to receive 13 Grammy nominations and a second Grammy in 1999, when Sly & Robbie won Best Reggae Album for Friends. Beyond Jamaica, Sly Dunbar’s influence extended across the global music industry. He recorded with Bob Dylan on Infidels and Empire Burlesque, appeared on multiple albums by Grace Jones, and collaborated with artists including Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, Simply Red, Yoko Ono, Sinéad O’Connor, and the Rolling Stones. Among the duo’s most celebrated productions was Chaka Demus & Pliers’ 1992 international hit Murder She Wrote, a minimalist masterpiece driven by Dunbar’s pulsing drums and Shakespeare’s signature bassline. The track remains one of the most enduring dancehall records of all time. In the early 2000s, Sly and Robbie’s veteran status made them ideal collaborators for international pop acts. They worked with No Doubt at Geejam Studios in Jamaica, helping shape Underneath It All and Hey Baby, and recommending the inclusion of Lady Saw and Bounty Killer. Both songs became major global hits and earned Grammy Awards. Dunbar also played a key role in the early development of OMI’s Cheerleader, contributing to the original recording in 2012 and earning a co-writing credit long before the song became a worldwide hit. With his passing, Jamaica and the global music community have lost a towering figure whose rhythms defined eras, crossed borders, and influenced the sound of modern music. Sly Dunbar’s legacy lives on in thousands of recordings and in the heartbeat of reggae itself