Bass Player, Reggae Icon Robbie Shakespeare Has Died

Tributes are pouring in for Robbie Shakespeare, who has died.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1952, Robbie Shakespeare learned to play bass under the guidance of Aston Barrett of The Wailers, following a chance meeting.

Bass is a central component of Jamaican music, and his deft touch helped to alter the way the instrument was used in both subtle and dramatic ways.

Playing on countless recordings, he formed one half of the duo Sly and Robbie alongside drummer Sly Dunbar.

Renowned for their telepathic interplay, Sly and Robbie collaborated extensively, earning across-the-board acclaim.

Perhaps their most potent legacy of their reggae work, however, including fabled riddims ‘Bam Bam’ and ‘Murder She Wrote’ – tracks that have been versioned literally thousands of times.

The Jamaican Gleaner reports that Robbie Shakespeare died in Florida, where he had been hospitalised for kidney surgery.

Jamaica’s Culture Minister Olivia Grange announced his death, and praised Robbie Shakespeare as a true all time great.

She said: “[Sly and Robbie] took bass playing and drumming to the highest level as they made music for themselves as a group, and for many other artistes locally and internationally…”

UK selector David Rodigan was quick to honour the musician:

The bass is everything in Reggae music and Robbie Shakespeare played his bass guitar like nobody else; he made the beat drop, speaker boxes shook and we rocked.His passing is a tragic loss; his contribution to the genre is immeasurable. RIP Robbie Shakespeare. pic.twitter.com/3JMMtbUrm1

— David Rodigan (@DavidRodigan) December 8, 2021