RIP Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar Jamaican Music Icon Dead at 73

[Mixd]

Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar
Jamaican Music Icon Dead at 73

​

Lowell “Sly” Dunbar, who was one half of legendary Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, has died, his daughter confirmed to TMZ.

Natasha Dunbar tells us ... her father died Monday at his home in Kingston, Jamaica. A cause of death was not disclosed.

"As one half of Sly & Robbie, Sly helped shape the sound of reggae and Jamaican music for generations. His extraordinary talent, innovation, and lasting contributions will never be forgotten. Sly’s music, spirit, and legacy touched people around the world, and we are deeply grateful for the love and support during this difficult time," reads a statement from the family.

​

Alongside the late bassist Robbie Shakespeare, drummer Sly is credited with helping to define the rhythm of reggae, dub and dancehall ... and they recorded several albums, including their first credited as a duo, "Sly and Robbie Present Taxi" in 1981.

The duo also worked as producers ... working on tracks with the likes of Madonna, No Doubt and The Rolling Stones.

Sly was 73.

RIP

Reggae Legend Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar Dead at 73

Lowell “Sly” Dunbar, who was one half of legendary Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, has died, his daughter confirmed to TMZ.

www.tmz.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Rest in peace.

 

[woodchuck]

RIP to one of the Riddum Twins.

 

[World B Free]

RIP....sad.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Sly and Robbie were a prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo, associated primarily with the reggae and dub genres.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_and_Robbie#cite_note-Greene-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a> Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in the mid-1970s after establishing themselves separately in Jamaica as professional musicians.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_and_Robbie#cite_note-Larkin-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> They recorded several albums under the Sly and Robbie name, and made hundreds of appearances on records by other performers.

Shakespeare died in December 2021 following kidney surgery, and Dunbar 26 January 2026.

Discography​

Main article: Sly and Robbie discography

• Language Barrier (1985)
• Rhythm Killers (1987)
• Silent Assassin (1989)
• Friends (1998)
• Drum and Bass Strip to the Bone (1999)
• Version Born (2004)
• Rhythm Doubles (2006)
• Dubrising (2014)

 

[Lexx Diamond]

Rest in peace.

 

[mcguyver]

RIP

 

[Al Smith]

WOW.. RIP..

 

[West Endian]

RIP Mr.Lowell "Sly"Dunbar.

 

[woodchuck]

Sly and Robbie were a prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo, associated primarily with the reggae and dub genres.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_and_Robbie#cite_note-Greene-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a> Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in the mid-1970s after establishing themselves separately in Jamaica as professional musicians.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_and_Robbie#cite_note-Larkin-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> They recorded several albums under the Sly and Robbie name, and made hundreds of appearances on records by other performers.

Shakespeare died in December 2021 following kidney surgery, and Dunbar 26 January 2026.

Discography​

Main article: Sly and Robbie discography

• Language Barrier (1985)
• Rhythm Killers (1987)
• Silent Assassin (1989)
• Friends (1998)
• Drum and Bass Strip to the Bone (1999)
• Version Born (2004)
• Rhythm Doubles (2006)
• Dubrising (2014)

Their work with Grace Jones was epic!

 

[bbuzzard]

RIP

 

[SIDESHOW]

RIP

@TEN @Lexx Diamond can we get a sticky?

 

[slewdem100]

RIP Brother Sly

 

[The Jamaican]

 

[jawnswoop]

R.I.P.

 

[TEN]

Thank you for the reggae, of course. But also, thank you for the FUNK!
Rest in Peace Sly Dunbar. A true genius of rhythm. Time for you to rejoin Robbie in music heaven. Salute.

 

[ViCiouS]

r i p

 

[November 17]

R.I.P.

 

[yardy]

Dropping some serious riddims with Robbie upstairs.

RIP
Legend

 

[Rythm]

RIP Legend..

 

[blackbull1970]

RIP.

And the Orange Moron is still walking and breathing…

 

[easy_b]

RIP

 

[JungleBros]

RIP

 

[DaMostHy]

Rest in peace.

 

[TEN]

My personal favourite by Bob

 

[Mr. Met]

RIP

 

[hog fat]

RIP​

 

[blackman80]

RIP

 

[HAR125LEM]

With all that's going on in the world these days, the deaths of My Childhood Creative Heroes, Comic Book Artist Sal Buscema and Reggae (among other music genres) Great Sly Dunbar makes this week even all the sadder.

Glad I got to see Sly and Robbie on numerous occasions during My 80s Concert days. The memorable one was Pier 84. The Duo played Rhythm Section with both acts of Yellowman and Black Uhuru. That was CLASSIC Reggae right there.

 

[crossovernegro]

RIP!!!!!!!!!!!


.

 

[playahaitian]

REST IN PEACE

 

[Mixd]

Soundclash Fraternity foundation...

​

 

[WorldEX]

RIP to one of greatest on Drums!

 

[furlough]

R.I.P.

 

[CPT Callamity]

RIP
First I heard of them was when KRS One produced them.