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Born Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare in East
Kingston in 1953, Shakespeare was a prolific bassist who worked
with reggae greats including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Gregory
Isaacs.
Jamaican Culture Minister Olivia Grange called him one of the
country's great musicians.
"I am in shock and sorrow after just receiving the news that my
friend and brother, the legendary bassist Robbie Shakespeare has
died,” she said in a statement that did not describe the cause
of death but said he "had been ailing for some time"
"This fantastic team took bass playing and drumming to the
highest level."
His work spanned the roots reggae, rockers and dancehall genres
with distinctive bass grooves that often used electronic
effects.
Shakespeare also branched into pop music, producing artists like
Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper and Grace Jones.
He learned to play bass at the hands of Aston Barrett of the
Wailers and the Upsetters band.
Named several times to "best bassist" lists, including Rolling
Stone's 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time, Shakespeare formed a
duo with Sly Dunbar called the Riddim Twins, their first
collaboration a band called the Revolutionaries.
In 1974, the pair formed an independent production company and
record label called Taxi Records.
Their first production with Gregory Isaacs, called "Soon
Forward," was an instant hit.
Sly and Robbie produced music for movie soundtracks, including
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Poetic Justice." The duo was
nominated for 11 Grammy awards, with one win for best reggae
album in 1998 for "Friends."
(Reporting by Kate Chappell in Kingston; Writing by Brian
Ellsworth; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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