Reggae Icon Sly Dunbar, of Sly & Robbie, Dies at 73: A Look Back at His Legendary Career

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Sly Dunbar, the Jamaican drumming legend renowned as one half of the groundbreaking production duo Sly & Robbie. He was 73.

The news was confirmed earlier today, January 26th, by his wife Thelma, who told The Gleaner: “About seven o’clock this morning I went to wake him up and he wasn’t responding. I called the doctor and that was the news.”

While a cause of death has not been officially released, reports indicate that Dunbar had been battling illness for some time.

Dunbar's innovative drumming style, a fusion of traditional Jamaican rhythms with rock, funk, and soul influences, became a defining sound of reggae.

He and bassist Robbie Shakespeare joined forces in 1972, and their rhythm section is estimated to have played on an astounding 200,000+ recordings. Their unparalleled talent led to collaborations with reggae royalty such as Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and Black Uhuru, and later with global icons like The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Grace Jones.
Lowell Fillmore ‘Sly’ Dunbar

Born Lowell Fillmore ‘Sly’ Dunbar in Kingston on May 10, 1952, he began his musical journey at 15. One of his earliest successes was contributing to Dave and Ansell Collins' classic single ‘Double Barrel,’ a Number One hit in the UK.

His bond with Shakespeare was forged over a shared passion for Motown, Philly soul, and the sounds of Stax Records, as well as Jamaican labels like Studio One and Treasure Isle. As the house band for Tosh, they played on five albums and became highly sought after.

In the early '80s, they became synonymous with the 'rub a dub' sound, embracing computer-assisted production. Island Records founder Chris Blackwell made them the core of the Compass Point All Stars, producing classic albums by Grace Jones, Gwen Guthrie, and Joe Cocker.

They underpinned Dylan’s ‘Infidels’ in 1983 and contributed to the Stones’ 1986 album ‘Dirty Work’. Their extensive collaborations also included Bootsy Collins, Jackson Browne, Joan Armatrading, Dennis Brown, Gary Barlow, Ian Dury, Yoko Ono, Sinead O’Connor, and Simply Red.

As Sly & Robbie, they released their own albums, experimenting with electronic sounds and scoring a hit in 1987 with ‘Boops (Here To Go)’. They continually evolved, incorporating global pop styles, including Latin and dancehall, into their work.

Here's a glimpse at the outpouring of tributes to Dunbar:

Sly Dunbar
May 10, 1952 — January 26, 2026
Rest in Power 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/6mw2GV3kER

— The Wailers (@TheWailers) January 26, 2026

Words cannot describe how heartbroken I am to hear of the passing of my friend and legend, Sly Dunbar 😢 pic.twitter.com/tCQvPbxyo3

— ALI CAMPBELL (@UB40) January 26, 2026

#SlyDunbar
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of a true icon

One of the greatest drummer of all time

A producer of countless hits whose works defined the sound which the world knows as Reggae and Dancehall

A true gentleman of class & mentor to so many of us

It was an… pic.twitter.com/OgljfqjHqu

— Junior Rodigan (@JuniorRodigan) January 26, 2026

This is a special concert that took place in Germany in 1981. Black Uhuru were backed by Sly Dunbar, who died today, on drums, and Robbie Shakespeare on bass. The Black Uhuru members on this night were Michael Rose, Puma Jones, and Duckie Simpson.

Sly plays the drums like a… pic.twitter.com/eXEsdOjdQt

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) January 26, 2026

Dunbar received 13 Grammy nominations, winning two – for Black Uhuru’s ‘Anthem’ in 1985 and for the 1999 Sly & Robbie album ‘Friends’.

Shakespeare passed away in 2021 at the age of 68 following kidney surgery, marking the end of an era for one of music's most influential partnerships.