RIP Robbie Shakespeare

This was sad to hear. Much respect for this man and his abilities and influence. Thanks for what I've learned from you, Robbie.

 

Thanks for announcing this! Although I’m not familiar with all of his individual works, today I am making it a point to listen to this playlist I found on Spotify through the remainder of the day.
Sincere best wishes to his friends, family and colleagues. RIP

 

So sad.
My first encounter with Robbie and Sly was Revolutionaires backing Mighty Diamonds at Channel One.

 

Rest in Peace Robbie, you live on in the music.

 

Just a heads up - Robbie didn't play on all of the tracks on that playlist.

 

Some of my favourite Sly & Robbie work was what they did as part of the house band at Chris Blackwell's Compass Point studio in Nassau.

Inspiration - YouTube

Gwen Guthrie - Padlock - YouTube

Grace Jones / Walking In The Rain - YouTube

 

The one time I saw Sly & Robbie perform it was with Bitty McClean on vocals.

 

Great bassline here

 

RIP Robbie.
All of people thought he just did reggae. I’ve heard him on so many other artist’s releases. He was pretty multi-genre.
Ironically, the first time I ever heard him was a Grace Jones tune that he played from the early 80s and on a 12” single. (For those of you who remember!) I just loved his funky intro and I’ve always remembered it. Groove away in the heavens, buddy!

 

I did not know Sly and Robbie recorded with Gwen Guthrie. I suspect recorded several hits with her.

 

Last night, I was out late and my local NPR station carries the BBC. Robbie Shakespeare’s death was headline news and there was a fairly long featured story about how he and Sly Dunbar kept Reggae moving forward after Bob Marley’s death. I looked at the New York Obituary, and it was crickets. That just shows how much bigger Reggae was and is outside of the USA.

 

Robbie Shakespeare, Prolific Reggae Bassist, Is Dead at 68

I need to take at least some of what I said back because there is a full obituary on Mr. Shakespeare in today’s NYT.

 

Well, there's no question that reggae has always been a lot bigger in England than t has been in the U.S.

 

Good to know!
After listening to it through the day I was disappointed that it didn’t more of his stuff that colored outside of the reggae lines too.

 

It seems that Sly & Robbie were heavily involved with Guthrie's first two albums (playing, writing and producing). You might find her bio information interesting: Gwen Guthrie | Discography | Discogs

 

Robbie influenced me from an early age. RIP Brother.