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Iconic drummer Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar, who was one half of legendary Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, has died aged 73.
The musician, who was a two-time Grammy Award winner, passed away on Monday at his home in Kingston, Jamaica. A cause of death has not yet been revealed, TMZ reported.
A statement from the family read: 'As one half of Sly & Robbie, Sly helped shape the sound of reggae and Jamaican music for generations.
'His extraordinary talent, innovation, and lasting contributions will never be forgotten.
'Sly's music, spirit, and legacy touched people around the world, and we are deeply grateful for the love and support during this difficult time.'
Dunbar's devastated wife Thelma told Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner her husband had been 'ill for some time.'
Iconic drummer Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar, who was one half of legendary Jamaican duo Sly & Robbie, has died aged 73 - pictured 1984
He is pictured with Sly & Robbie bandmate Robbie Shakespeare in 1984
'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' she said.
'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.'
He began playing in band The Yardbrooms at age 15 before he met future bandmate Robbie Shakespeare in 1972.
Dunbar and Shakespeare are credited with pioneering modern reggae music and recorded numerous albums together, as well as making hundreds of appearances on other records.
Shakespeare died in December 2021 aged 68 following kidney surgery,
Their Taxi Records label, formed in 1980, worked with artists including Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus and Pliers and Ini Kamoze.
In 1976 the rhythm section and production duo won critical acclaim for their work on The Mighty Diamonds' album Right Time.
According to the Independent, the entire album 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.'
Dunbar said of the 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.'
Dunbar and Shakespeare are credited with pioneering reggae music and recorded five albums together - pictured 2001
A statement from the family read: 'As one half of Sly & Robbie, Sly helped shape the sound of reggae and Jamaican music for generations'
Dunbar was a 13-time Grammy nominee, winning the 1985 Grammy for Best Reggae Recording for the Black Uhuru album Anthem for which Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare were producers - pictured 2009
Dunbar was a 13-time Grammy nominee, winning the 1985 Grammy for Best Reggae Recording for the Black Uhuru album Anthem for which Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare were producers.
He won again in 1999 for Best Reggae Album for the Sly & Robbie album entitled Friends.
The duo have also worked with artists including Madonna, No Doubt, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Khaled.
The duo produced No Doubt's hits Hey Baby and Underneath It All.
Sly & Robbie landed their second UK top 40 hit in 1997, with their collaboration with Simply Red on a cover of Gregory Isaacs' Night Nurse, which peaked at number 13.
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