Lowell Fillmore "Sly" Dunbar (born 10 May 1952, Kingston, Jamaica)[1] is a Jamaican drummer, best known as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie.
Biography
Dunbar began playing at 15 in a band called The Yardbrooms. His first appearance on a recording was on the Dave and Ansell Collins album Double Barrel. Dunbar joined a band Ansell Collins called Skin, Flesh and Bones.[1]
Speaking on his influences, Sly explains “My mentor was the drummer for the Skatalites, Lloyd Knibb. And I used to listen a lot to the drummer for Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Al Jackson Jr., and a lot of Philadelphia. And there are other drummers in Jamaica, like Santa and Carly from the Wailers Band, Winston Bennett, Paul Douglas, Mikey Boo. I respect all these drummers and have learnt a lot from them. From them, I listened and created my own style. They played some things I copied, other things I recreated."[2]
In 1972, Dunbar met and became friends with Robbie Shakespeare, who was then bass guitarist for the Hippy Boys. Shakespeare recommended Dunbar to Bunny Lee as a possible session drummer for the Aggrovators. Dunbar and Shakespeare decided to continue performing together. They worked with Peter Tosh and his band until 1981, recording five albums.[1]
Dunbar noted about the Mighty Diamonds' song "Right Time": "When that tune first come out, because of that double tap on the rim nobody believe it was me on the drums, they thought it was some sort of sound effect we was using. Then when it go to number 1 and stay there, everybody started trying for that style and it soon become established."[3] According to The Independent, the entire album Right Time was "revolutionary", the breakthrough album of "masters of groove and propulsion" Dunbar and Shakespeare, with "Sly's radical drumming matching the singers' insurrectionary lyrics blow-for-blow."[4]
Dunbar plays drums on several noteworthy tracks produced by Lee Perry including "Night Doctor", Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves", and Bob Marley's "Punky Reggae Party" 12" track (although the track was produced by Perry, Dunbar's drum track was actually recorded at Joe Gibbs Duhaney Park studio).[5]
In 2008, Sly Dunbar collaborated with the Jamaican percussionist Larry McDonald, on his debut album Drumquestra.[6]
Dunbar appeared in the 2011 documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured on the BBC and described as “The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica”.[7][8]
In 1979, Brian Eno remarked of Sly Dunbar: " (...) So when you buy a reggae record, there's a 90 percent chance the drummer is Sly Dunbar. You get the impression that Sly Dunbar is chained to a studio seat somewhere in Jamaica, but in fact what happens is that his drum tracks are so interesting, they get used again and again."[9]
Awards
Sly Dunbar is a 13-time Grammy nominee. He received two Grammy awards: the 1985 Grammy for Best Reggae Recording for the Black Uhuru album "Anthem" for which Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare were producers, and one for the 1999 Best Reggae Album Grammy award for the Sly & Robbie album entitled "Friends".[10]
Grammy Nominations
2014: Best Reggae Album, "Reggae Connection"
2013; Best Reggae Album, "New Legend - Jamaica 50th Edition"
2011: Reggae Album, "Made In Jamaica"
2011: Reggae Album, "One Pop Reggae +"
2009: Best Reggae Album, "Amazing"
2008: Best Reggae Album, "Anniversary"
2007: Best Reggae Album, "Rhythm Doubles"
2005: Best Reggae Album, "The Dub Revolutionaries"
1999: Best Reggae Album, "Friends"
1987: Best Reggae Recording, "Brutal (Album)"
1986: Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist), "Bass And Trouble"
1985: Best Reggae Recording, "Anthem"
1983: Best Ethnic Or Traditional Folk Recording, "Reggae Sunsplash '81, A Tribute To Bob Marley (Album)"
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