‘Rest in beats’ iconic drummer Sly Dunbar

The passing of legendary drummer and producer, Sly Dunbar, one week after the death of Third World co-founder, Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore has left the music industry reeling.

“A wha’ really a gwaan?” a puzzled General Lee asked of no one in particular. “Cat Coore last week and now Sly?”

High Power Music producer General Lee, who is based in the UK, has enjoyed a decades-long friendship with both Sly and the late bass player, Robbie Shakespeare, spoke to the drummer up to early Monday morning, England time, hours before his passing. Like many in the industry, he is shaken. Sly’s wife, Thelma, confirmed his passing to The Gleaner, weeping as she mourned the loss of her “best friend”.

Lowell ‘Sly’ Dunbar, who Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, described as “one of the greatest drummers ever,” passed away at his home in St Andrew on Monday morning after a period of illness. He was 73.

Noting that Dunbar’s death is “a great loss for the music” the minister in a press release, recalled “the outstanding body of work” produced by Sly Dunbar and the late Robbie Shakespeare, co-founders of the Taxi Records label.

“Sly and Robbie produced some of the best Jamaican music, they appeared on many records and backed some of our most outstanding artistes including Bunny Wailer, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, Beenie Man, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Grace Jones and Omi, among others.”

Minister Grange said Sly and Robbie were sought after by international artistes.

“Sly and Robbie were the ‘go to’. They produced and/or played on tracks for several international acts including No Doubt, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Fugees and Simply Red. Sly was a truly gifted and remarkable musician and producer whose passing today is a great loss for the music,” said Minister Grange.

Poetic tribute

Andi Green-Browne singer/song-writer and widow of the late musician and producer Noel Browne, poured her heart into a poetic tribute to Sly.

“Honestly, Sly may just be the humblest and most talented Jamaican musician I have ever met,” Green-Browne told The Gleaner. “Sleek, spiffy and humble at all same time, he brought life to the Simmons Drums ... like they walked and talked ... the most fascinating rolls through my chest. I just couldn’t stand still.”

She skilfully painted a scene that played out one day in the mid 1980s inside the legendary Channel One Studio .

“What looked like something out of a futuristic movie ... that still set of weirdly shaped pieces arranged like a traditional drum set. But then, cool Sly sat behind them, after politely greeting everyone along the path. Then time stood still, in anticipation of what could possibly be emitted from those interesting hexagonal looking pods. Baxcide! He clapped the sticks together as he counted down the starting roll. Mega sigh.... Out of this world,” exclaimed the singer, who at one point was the manager at Donovan Germain’s Penthouse Recording Studios.

From Green-Browne’s perspective, “Sly applied Sly to the process and that was the loud beginning of an era in our music.”

She continued, “I now understood the magic that was recorded at Dynamic Sounds Recording Studio when Sly & Robbie served up Black Uhuru’s Solidarity, and slammed us with undisputed drum and bass niceness. I’m surprised and sad to say goodbye. All I can say now is Rest In Beats”

Like Green-Browne, Bridgett Anderson and General Lee spoke about Sly’s humility.

“Lowell ‘Sly’ Dunbar he is one of the individuals responsible for my musical journey,” Anderson shared. “My first experience in the music business was September 1991 when I toured with Judy Mowatt and Sly & Robbie. Sly has always encouraged me never to give up despite the challenges. The humblest, most talented human being I’ve ever met ... his greatness seems to make him more humble. I have not seen him for a while but my love and respect is forever. Sly was a Simeon a man of Faith. SIEP my brother.”

General Lee admitted that “Sly death nuh soak in yet” as he recalled their friendship and the kindness that Sly has shown him and countless others.

“I remember once I was having a challenge and me and Sly a reason and him seh him soon call mi back. Next thing is VP [Records] call mi and seh come for something. It was US$5,000 ... and it wasn’t a loan. Sly do plenty things for plenty people, but him neva loud it up. Sly was a good man. Sunday he asked me to get him some of the hats that he wears ... is me always get them for him. If yuh look on him phone now, yuh will see where mi ask him what size and tell him that the last time is 56 cm mi did buy. Mi cyann believe seh Sly gone,” General Lee said with a loud sigh.

Born on May 10, 1952, Lowell ‘Sly’ Dunbar, the two-time Grammy winner and 13-time nominee, had been awarded the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government. His passing made headlines in news outlets across the world, including, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, New York Post, TMZ and Ultimate Classic Rock.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com