Legendary drummer Sly Dunbar has passed

Lowell Fillmore 'Sly' Dunbar, one half of the legendary Sly and Robbie duo and co-founder of the revolutionary Taxi Records label, died at his home early this morning. He was 73.

His wife, Thelma Dunbar, confirmed the news to The STAR, revealing that he passed around 7:00 a.m.

"About 7 o'clock this morning I went to wake him up and he wasn't responding. I called the doctor and that was the news," she said, struggling through tears.

Sly, who had been ailing for some time, was receiving medical care at home and overseas. His passing came as a shock to his family, especially after what Thelma described as a good final day.

"Yesterday was such a good day for him. He had friends come over to visit him and we all had such a good time. He ate well yesterday. Sometimes he's not into food. I knew he was sick, but I didn't know that he was this sick," she shared.

Born on May 10, 1952, Dunbar rose to global fame as the drumming half of Sly and Robbie, the iconic Riddim Twins who reshaped reggae, dancehall and international pop music. His longtime musical partner, Robbie Shakespeare, died in Miami in December 2021.

Sly's musical journey began early. He made his first recording appearance on the Dave and Ansell Collins album Double Barrel, started drumming at age 15 with The Yardbrooms, and later joined Skin, Flesh & Bones. In 1972, he met Robbie Shakespeare after being recommended to producer Bunny Lee as a session drummer for The Aggrovators. The rest was history.

Together, Sly and Robbie worked with Peter Tosh, formed Taxi Records in 1980, and produced timeless music for artistes including Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ini Kamoze, Beenie Man and Red Dragon.

Sly's drumsticks also powered classics like Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves, Bob Marley and the Wailers' Punky Reggae Party, and albums by Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, and The Rolling Stones.

His contribution to music earned him numerous honours, including the Order of Distinction, the Musgrave Gold Medal in 2015, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota in May 2025.

Today, Jamaica and the world mourn a man whose rhythms helped carry reggae to every corner of the globe.

- Yasmine Peru

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