Sly Dunbar Obituary

Sly Dunbar, the Jamaican drummer and producer whose precision grooves helped define roots reggae, dub, and modern dancehall, died January 26, 2026. He was 73.

Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 10, 1952, he began tapping rhythms on furniture and tin cans long before he had a proper kit. He went from local bands to Kingston's most in-demand sessions in remarkably little time.

Dunbar's signature partnership with bassist Robbie Shakespeare (1953–2021) became one of popular music's most recorded rhythm engines. Together, they were known as Sly & Robbie, also widely nicknamed "the Riddim Twins."

They first played together in the Revolutionaries, the house band at Channel One Studios in Kingston. From there, their sound traveled quickly, underpinning classic reggae recordings and setting a template for later dancehall production.

Their work spans major Jamaican artists and international stars. Dunbar drummed on recordings by reggae greats like Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh (1944–1987), Jimmy Cliff (1944–2025), and Bunny Wailer (1947–2021).

Outside Jamaica, Sly & Robbie became sought-after collaborators for crossover projects without diluting their rhythmic identity. They played on projects as diverse on Grace Jones' early-1980s albums, sessions with Serge Gainsbourg, multiple singles by No Doubt, and recordings with Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger.

Dunbar also helped shape the business side of reggae's global expansion. In 1980, he and Shakespeare co-founded Taxi Records, a label and production hub linked to artists including Shaggy, Beenie Man, and others.

His awards record matched his output. Dunbar was nominated for 13 Grammys and won twice, for Black Uhuru's "Anthem" in the inaugural year of the reggae category and for Sly & Robbie's "Friends."

Tributes highlighted both his innovation and his quiet authority in the studio. Ali Campbell, lead singer and co-founder of UB40, said, " Modern day beats simply wouldn't be what they are without the influence of reggae and dancehall riddims that Sly single-handedly pioneered."

David Rodigan, a British dub and reggae DJ and broadcaster, called Dunbar a "true icon" and among the greatest drummers, emphasizing that he " played on literally thousands and thousands of recordings."

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted Dunbar's importance to their home country: "He was a pioneer. He integrated electronic instruments into traditional reggae beats, keeping our music modern and relevant for decades."

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Richard Ecclestone/Redferns)