Sly Dunbar, the Jamaican musician and producer who created generations of global hits as one half of production duo Sly and Robbie, has died aged 73.
His wife, Thelma, told Jamaican newspaper the Gleaner that she found him unresponsive yesterday morning, with doctors later pronouncing him dead.Newspapers
Other sources close to Dunbar confirmed the news, adding that he had been unwell for some months.
Alongside bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who died in 2021, Dunbar formed the most influential rhythm section in Jamaican music history, helping to define the sound of reggae, dub, and dancehall across five decades.
Rory Baker, a producer and recording/mixing engineer for Sly & Robbie’s Taxi Records camp, confirmed Dunbar’s passing yesterday morning while en route to the family’s residence.
“This is a major, major blow for me personally . . . mi three mentor dem gone back to back now, Robbie, then Cat Coore and now Sly, all of them gone,” Baker said.
Dunbar, whose full name is Lowell Fillmore Dunbar, is survived by his wife Thelma and daughter. — wires.
