Sly Dunbar: The Legend of Jamaican Music
Automatic translation. Read the Russian original
On January 26, Sly Dunbar, a prominent drummer and influential producer known as part of the legendary rhythm section of Sly & Robbie, passed away. His importance in reggae music was recognized by many, including Brian Eno, who called him “the drummer on 90% of all reggae records.” Dunbar, who has worked with iconic reggae figure Lee Perry, Jimmy Cliff and others, has won 13 Grammy nominations, including twice being voted Best Reggae Musician.
His influence was not limited to Jamaica: he collaborated with Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, The Rolling Stones, Sinead O’Connor, Joe Cocker and No Doubt. In the early 2000s, the duo Sly & Robbie cemented their popularity with the Late Night Tales project, where they presented a cover of Madonna's "La Isla Bonita".
In 2021, the work of Dunbar and his partner Robbie Shakespeare ended after the death of Shakespeare. The cause of Dunbar's death has not yet been disclosed, but it is known about his health problems in recent years.