VP Records joins the global reggae community in mourning the passing of Sly Dunbar. The revolutionary Jamaican musician and producer, born Lowell Dunbar, passed away Monday morning (January 26) at the age of 73.
Born May 10, 1952, Sly was a self-taught drummer who began by building his own kit and rose quickly through Kingston’s music scene, making his recording debut in 1970 on Ansell Collins’ “Double Barrel” before meeting his longtime musical partner Robbie Shakespeare.
As Sly & Robbie, the duo became central to the sound of 1970s Jamaican music, anchoring Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee’s Aggrovators, shaping the Rockers era at Channel One with The Revolutionaries, and later forming The Taxi Gang and Taxi label with defining recordings for Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, and others. Their influence extended far beyond reggae through collaborations with artists including Madonna, Paul McCartney, Grace Jones, and The Rolling Stones.
Dunbar’s impact on music remains immeasurable, and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. (VP RECORDS)
