Aston “Family Man” Barrett, alongside his brother, drummer Carlton Barrett, is one of the musicians whose work laid the foundation for reggae and dub.
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Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Jamaican bassist and former leader of Bob Marley’s Wailers, one of the architects of reggae, died Saturday February 3 at the age of 77 in Miami, Florida, his family announced on social networks. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Aston “Familyman” Barrett after a long battle with illness.”wrote on Instagram one of his sons, Aston Barrett Jr.
Born in 1946 in Kingston, Aston “Family Man” Barrett, alongside his brother, drummer Carlton Barrett, is one of the musicians whose work laid the foundation for reggae and dub. He joined Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1970 and became the “bandleader” of the Wailers until Bob Marley’s death in 1981, playing on all of the reggae legend’s albums.
“A beloved friend”, “a pioneer of Jamaican music”
During his career, Barrett also played with the biggest names in the genre. From the late 1960s to 1972, he was the bassist for Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters. He also accompanied Burning Spear between 1975 and 1983, and played for Max Romeo, King Tubby, Augustus Pablo and Alpha Blondy. In 2006, he tried to have his work as a producer and composer recognized in court. He claimed £60 million in unpaid royalties from Bob Marley’s record company, Island Records, for him and his brother Carlton Barrett who died in 1987, without success.
“This morning, the world lost not only an iconic musician and the backbone of the Wailers, but also a remarkable human being whose legacy is as immense as his talent.”writes Aston Barrett Jr, who is the current drummer and frontman of the Wailers.
The Marley family, who started promoting the biopic Bob Marley: One Love which is due to be released in cinemas on February 14, shares its “tears in the heart and eyes” for a “beloved friend”A “musical partner”, “a pioneer, unique, trend setter, revolutionary in the music space”. There Jamaican Minister of Culture, Olivia Grangesalutes on “pioneer of Jamaican music and a mentor to many Jamaican artists”.