(December 9, 2021) He was one half of one of the great production duos of all time, and a bassist supreme. Today we say a sad goodbye to Robbie Shakespeare of the team Sly & Robbie. He was 68, and died of complications following kidney surgery.
The Jamaican star had been part of the music business since his teen years, but early on he teamed with drummer Sly Dunbar, a pairing that would change music history. Together they became international stars, both as performing artists and as producers of other musical greats. In the process, Shakespeare became an industry icon, amassing 13 Grammy nominations.
During their biggest years as producers, Sly and Robbie working with top tier reggae artists like Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Dennis Brown, but they also extended their reach to other genres, becoming the producers of choice for Jackson Browne, Bob Dylen, Mick Jagger and countless others. And in between production work, the duo recorded six highly regarded albums.
Shakespeare was a musical giant, and we will be enjoying a lifetime of his work for decades to come. Rest in peace, sir.
