Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie.
- Died: Wednesday, December 8, 2021. (Who else died on December 8?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 68, according to a tweet from Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture.
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Influential Bassist
Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the influential rhythm section Sly and Robbie with drummer Sly Dunbar. The partnership began in Jamiaca in the 1970’s and they became a sought after rhythm section for many reggae legends including Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru. They branched out into other musical genres, playing with Grace Jones on her classic “Pull Up to the Bumper.” They also worked with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and Carly Simon. Sly and Robbie released their own music and are Grammy Award winners.
Notable Quote
“I said, ‘Who’s Sly?’ ” “’Sly’s a drummer.’ ‘Alright, come on.’ We went over there and Sly is sitting down on the drums, and I said, ‘Whoa, he can beat a drum. That’s a good sound, I want a session with that youth.’ … We started playing and everyone was jumping, ‘Whoa yeah!’ The studio was packed, and they said, ‘Yeah, that combination is wicked.’ It started from there.” – He said to Red Bull Music Academy in 2008
Tributes to Robbie Shakespeare
Full Obituary: Rolling Stone
