Reggae Icon Sly Dunbar Passes Away at 73

Sat Jan 31 2026 19:21:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Sly Dunbar, a legendary drummer and half of the influential reggae duo Sly & Robbie, has died at the age of 73. Renowned for his work with high-profile musicians across genres, his passing marks the end of an era in music.

Sly Dunbar, celebrated drummer known for his collaborations with reggae legends and mainstream artists alike, has died at 73. As part of the duo Sly & Robbie, Dunbar was influential in the reggae scene, known for his innovative drumming style and production skills. His wife confirmed the news after finding him unresponsive at home. The music industry is mourning the loss of a true pioneer.

Reggae legend Sly Dunbar, who played with everyone from Bob Marley to The Rolling Stones, has died at the age of 73.

One of the genre's most revered drummers, he played on tracks such as Bob Marley's Punky Reggae Party and Dave and Ansell Collins' classic, Double Barrel.

However, he was better known as half of the production team Sly & Robbie - who produced groundbreaking hits for everyone from Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru to non-reggae acts like Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, and Ian Dury.

Dunbar's death was first reported by his wife, Thelma, who told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner she had found him unresponsive on Monday morning. The musician's agent and publicist confirmed the news to the BBC.

Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in Kingston, Jamaica, he started out playing on tin cans after watching Lloyd Knibbs and the Skatalites on television. I saw [Knibbs] playing and I thought, 'I want to be a drummer' because he's the hardest worker in the band, he said in a 1997 interview.

In his teens, Dunbar met bassist Robbie Shakespeare and formed the rhythm section of the Revolutionaries, who became regular session musicians at the famed Channel One recording studio. Their sound differed from the melody-rich music of Bob Marley, with a heavier emphasis on the beat—especially the pioneering 'rockers' rhythm which introduced more syncopation and energy to the music.

They spent the 1970s working with major reggae acts like Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, and Barrington Levy, while touring the US with Peter Tosh. Taxi Records was founded in 1980, nurturing a new generation of Jamaican artists such as Shaggy and Beenie Man.

Later, they developed a bright and melodic take on dancehall with Chaka Demus & Pliers, scoring hits like Tease Me and Murder She Wrote.

Dunbar's wife mentioned he had been unwell for some time. Yesterday was such a good day for him, she shared, highlighting his active engagement with friends and good appetite.

Tributes for Dunbar are pouring in, with British DJ David Rodigan calling him a true icon and one of the greatest drummers of all time.