Lowell Fillmore ‘Sly’ Dunbar, drummer extraordinaire and co-founder of the revolutionary Taxi Records label, has died. His wife, Thelma, confirmed to The Gleaner that he passed away at home this morning. He was 73.
“About 7 o’clock this morning I went to wake him up and he wasn’t responding, I called the doctor and that was the news,” Thelma said, struggling to talk through her pain and tears.
Sly, who had been ailing for some time, was being treated by physicians at home and overseas.
“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,” shared Thelma, Sly’s lifelong partner.
Born on May 10, 1952, Lowell Fillmore ‘Sly’ Dunbar distinguished himself as one half of the iconic duo Sly and Robbie, the illustrious Riddim Twins who revolutionised reggae and dancehall music. His musical partner, bassist Robbie Shakespeare, died on December 8, 2021, in Miami, Florida, at the age of 68.
Sly Dunbar, whose first recording appearance was on the Dave and Ansell Collins album Double Barrel, began playing drums at the age of 15 with The Yardbrooms. He later joined the Ansell Collins-led band Skin, Flesh & Bones.
According to his Wikipedia biography, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare met in 1972, when Shakespeare recommended Sly to producer Bunny Lee as a potential session drummer for the Aggrovators. The two soon decided to continue performing together, eventually working with Peter Tosh and his band until 1981, during which they recorded five albums.
In 1980, Sly and Robbie formed the Taxi Records label, which would become as legendary as they themselves. It has seen releases from many international successful artistes, including Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ini Kamoze, Beenie Man and Red Dragon.
Sly’s credits in the music industry are long and illustrious. From Junior Murvin’s Police and Thieves, and Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Punky Reggae Party 12-inch to Bob Dylan’s albums Infidels and Empire Burlesque, Sly played it all– and did it well.
Other notable sessions include Sly and Robbie’s contributions to three Grace Jones albums, as well as work with Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, and The Rolling Stones.
He collected numerous honours throughout his career. Sly Dunbar was recognised by the Jamaican Government with the Order of Distinction, awarded the Musgrave Gold Medal by the Institute of Jamaica in 2015, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota in May 2025.
