(New York) Jamaican bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who with Sly Dunbar formed one of the legendary duets in reggae history, has died at the age of 68, Jamaican Culture Minister Olivia Grange has announced.
“I am in shock and devastated after learning that my friend and brother, legendary bassist Robbie Shakespeare, is dead,” the minister said in a statement dated Wednesday.
“Robbie and Sly Dunbar (the drummer) as Sly and Robbie were some of Jamaica’s greatest musicians,” she added.
According to the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner, Shakespeare died in Florida where he had been hospitalized for kidney related problems.
Born September 27, 1953 in Kingston, he had learned to play bass with Aston Barrett, one of the future members of the Wailers who accompanied Bob Marley. He then founded in the mid-1970s with Sly Dunbar one of the most famous accompaniment duets in reggae music, then became a successful producer.
The duo have collaborated with Jamaican reggae greats like Black Uhuru, Wailers co-founder Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, or rub-a-dub legends U-Roy and Lee “Scratch” Perry, who died in February and August. last.
At the dawn of the 1980s, their talent went beyond the borders of the Caribbean island and they collaborated with artists from all over the world: Grace Jones, Bob Dylan, Madonna, No Doubt, the Rolling Stones but also Serge Gainsbourg, whom they accompanied. for his album To arms and so on, or Princess Erika.
“This fantastic team has taken bass and drums to the next level by making music for themselves as a band and for many artists, national and international,” said Minister Grange.
In 1984, the Black Uhuru album Anthem, which he produced, won the first Grammy award for reggae music. Sly and Robbie also triumphed at the Grammys with their album Friends in 1998.
Last year the magazine Rolling Stone had classified it 17e on the list of the best bassists in history.