Sly Dunbar

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Not to be confused with Aynsley Dunbar.

Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar on tour with Peter Tosh in Cardiff, Wales, 1979
Sly Dunbar on tour with Peter Tosh in Cardiff, Wales, 1979
Background information
Birth nameLowell Fillmore Dunbar
Born (1952-05-10) 10 May 1952 (age 71)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion, programming

Lowell Fillmore "Sly" Dunbar (born 10 May 1952, Kingston, Jamaica)[1] is a Jamaican drummer, best known as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie.

Biography[edit]

Dunbar began playing at 15 in a band called The Yardbrooms. His first appearance on a recording was on the Dave and Ansell Collins album Double Barrel. Dunbar joined a band Ansell Collins called Skin, Flesh and Bones.[1]

Speaking on his influences, Sly explains “My mentor was the drummer for the Skatalites, Lloyd Knibb. And I used to listen a lot to the drummer for Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Al Jackson Jr., and a lot of Philadelphia. And there are other drummers in Jamaica, like Santa and Carly from the Wailers Band, Winston Bennett, Paul Douglas, Mikey Boo. I respect all these drummers and have learnt a lot from them. From them, I listened and created my own style. They played some things I copied, other things I recreated."[2]

In 1972, Dunbar met and became friends with Robbie Shakespeare, who was then bass guitarist for the Hippy Boys. Shakespeare recommended Dunbar to Bunny Lee as a possible session drummer for the Aggrovators. Dunbar and Shakespeare decided to continue performing together. They worked with Peter Tosh and his band until 1981, recording five albums.[1]

Dunbar noted about the Mighty Diamonds' song "Right Time": "When that tune first come out, because of that double tap on the rim nobody believe it was me on the drums, they thought it was some sort of sound effect we was using. Then when it go to number 1 and stay there, everybody started trying for that style and it soon become established."[3] According to The Independent, the entire album Right Time was "revolutionary", the breakthrough album of "masters of groove and propulsion" Dunbar and Shakespeare, with "Sly's radical drumming matching the singers' insurrectionary lyrics blow-for-blow."[4]

Dunbar and Shakespeare formed their Taxi Records label in 1980. It has seen releases from many international successful artists, including Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ini Kamoze, Beenie Man and Red Dragon.[1]

Dunbar played for the Aggrovators for Bunny Lee, the Upsetters for Lee Perry, the Revolutionaries for Joseph Hoo Kim, and recorded for Barry O'Hare in the 1990s.[1]

Dunbar plays drums on several noteworthy tracks produced by Lee Perry including "Night Doctor", Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves", and Bob Marley's "Punky Reggae Party" 12" track (although the track was produced by Perry, Dunbar's drum track was actually recorded at Joe Gibbs Duhaney Park studio).[5]

Sly and Robbie also played on Bob Dylan's albums Infidels and Empire Burlesque (using recordings from the Infidels sessions). Other sessions include their appearance on three Grace Jones albums, and work with Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg and the Rolling Stones.[1]

In 2008, Sly Dunbar collaborated with the Jamaican percussionist Larry McDonald, on his debut album Drumquestra.[6]

Dunbar appeared in the 2011 documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured on the BBC and described as “The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica”.[7][8]


In 1979, Brian Eno remarked of Sly Dunbar: " (...) So when you buy a reggae record, there's a 90 percent chance the drummer is Sly Dunbar. You get the impression that Sly Dunbar is chained to a studio seat somewhere in Jamaica, but in fact what happens is that his drum tracks are so interesting, they get used again and again."[9]

Awards[edit]

Sly Dunbar is a 13-time Grammy nominee. He received two Grammy awards: the 1985 Grammy for Best Reggae Recording for the Black Uhuru album "Anthem" for which Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare were producers, and one for the 1999 Best Reggae Album Grammy award for the Sly & Robbie album entitled "Friends".[10]

Grammy Nominations

  • 2014: Best Reggae Album, "Reggae Connection"
  • 2013; Best Reggae Album, "New Legend - Jamaica 50th Edition"
  • 2011: Reggae Album, "Made In Jamaica"
  • 2011: Reggae Album, "One Pop Reggae +"
  • 2009: Best Reggae Album, "Amazing"
  • 2008: Best Reggae Album, "Anniversary"
  • 2007: Best Reggae Album, "Rhythm Doubles"
  • 2005: Best Reggae Album, "The Dub Revolutionaries"
  • 1999: Best Reggae Album, "Friends"
  • 1987: Best Reggae Recording, "Brutal (Album)"
  • 1986: Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist), "Bass And Trouble"
  • 1985: Best Reggae Recording, "Anthem"
  • 1983: Best Ethnic Or Traditional Folk Recording, "Reggae Sunsplash '81, A Tribute To Bob Marley (Album)"

Grammy Wins

  • 1999: Best Reggae Album, "Friends"
  • 1985: Best Reggae Recording, "Anthem"

Collaborations[edit]

With Joan Armatrading

With Gary Barlow

  • Sing (Decca Records, 2012)

With Dennis Brown

  • Visions of Dennis Brown (Joe Gibbs Music, 1978)
  • Words of Wisdom (Joe Gibbs Music, 1979)
  • Joseph's Coat (Joe Gibbs Music, 1979)
  • Spellbound (Joe Gibbs Music, 1980)
  • Foul Play (A&M Records, 1981)
  • More Dennis Brown (Yvonne's Special, 1981)
  • Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Joe Gibbs Music, 1982)
  • Love's Got a Hold on Me (Joe Gibbs Music, 1984)
  • Hold Tight (Live & Learn, 1986)
  • Brown Sugar (Taxi Records, 1986)
  • Good Vibrations (Yvonne's Special, 1989)
  • Cosmic (Observer, 1992)
  • Limited Edition (VP Records, 1992)
  • Give Prasies (Tappa, 1993)

With Jackson Browne

With Jimmy Cliff

  • Follow My Mind (Reprise Records, 1975)
  • Give the People What They Want (MCA Records, 1981)
  • Special (Columbia Records, 1982)
  • Cliff Hanger (CBS Records, 1985)
  • Humanitarian (CBS Records, 1999)

With Joe Cocker

With Bootsy Collins

With Carlene Davis

  • At the Right Time (Carib Gems, 1980)
  • Paradise (Orange Records, 1984)
  • Taking Control (Nicole Records, 1987)
  • Yesterday Today Forever (Nicole Records, 1987)
  • Christmas Reggae Rock (Nicole Records, 1988)
  • Carlene Davis (Eko Records, 1992)

With Ian Dury

With Bob Dylan

With Gwen Guthrie

  • Gwen Guthrie (Island Records, 1982)
  • Portrait (Island Records, 1983)
  • Good to Go Lover (Polydor Records, 1986)

With Nona Hendryx

  • Nona (RCA Records, 1983)

With Mick Jagger

With Garland Jeffreys

With Grace Jones

With Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

With Jenny Morris

With Yoko Ono

With Sinéad O'Connor

With Carly Simon

With Simply Red

  • Life (East West Records, 1995)
  • Blue (East West Records, 1998)

With Barry Reynolds

  • I Scare Myself (Island Records, 1982)

With Peter Tosh

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Biography by Craig Harris". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Red Bull Music Academy". Redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  3. ^ Bradley, Lloyd (2001). This is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaica's Music. Grove Press. p. 479. ISBN 0-8021-3828-4. Mighty Diamonds Right Time.
  4. ^ Murray, Charles Shaar (12 March 1999). "The rhythm kings Drum and bass are at the heart of popular music and for 20 years Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare have been acknowledged the best. But who are their own favourites?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  5. ^ "The Usual Suspects Part III: Sly Dunbar interviewed by Dermot Hussey". Midnightraverblog.com. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  6. ^ Coleman, Nick (31 May 2009). "Album: Larry McDonald, Drumquestra (MCPR)". The Independent. London.
  7. ^ "BBC Four - Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul". BBC. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Toots & The Maytals - Reggae Got Soul - Documentary Trailer". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Downbeat – PRO SESSION – The Studio As Compositional Tool". Music.hyperreal.org. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Artist: Sly Dunbar". Grammy.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

External links[edit]

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