"Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in 1952 in Kingston, Jamaica, Dunbar was a teen drum prodigy who played on Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Upsetters' 1969 single "Night Doctor" and Dave and Ansel Collins' LP "Double Barrel," whose title track topped the U.K. singles chart. After meeting bassist Robbie Shakespeare in 1972, the pair built distinct rhythms such as the insistent "Rockers" groove that bolstered canonical reggae tracks."
"Dunbar's drums hold down such genre-defining classics as Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves" and The Mighty Diamonds' 1976 "Right Time," as well as the 12-inch version of Bob Marley's "Punky Reggae Party." Locally, Sly & Robbie founded an influential label, Taxi Records, in 1980 and performed in the house band at Jamaica's formidable Channel One studio. Dunbar played on the first winner for reggae recording at the Grammys, Black Uhuru's "Anthem,""
Lowell "Sly" Dunbar, born in Kingston in 1952, died at 73 in Kingston. A teen drum prodigy, he played on Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Upsetters' 1969 single "Night Doctor" and on Dave and Ansel Collins' Double Barrel. After meeting bassist Robbie Shakespeare in 1972, the pair created the "Rockers" groove and backed artists including Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, and Gregory Isaacs. Dunbar's drumming anchored classics such as Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves," The Mighty Diamonds' "Right Time," and Bob Marley's "Punky Reggae Party" 12-inch. Sly and Robbie founded Taxi Records, played at Channel One, and Dunbar performed on Black Uhuru's Grammy-winning "Anthem." His rhythmic innovations reshaped reggae and influenced generations.
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