Sly Dunbar’s Death: The reggae music legend passed away at the age of 73.

On January 26, 2026, the music world lost a true legend. Sly Dunbar, the legendary drummer of reggae music, passed away at the age of 73 at his home in Kingston, Jamaica. Sly Dunbar was born on May 10, 1952, in Kingston and gave reggae and dancehall music a new identity. Today, we will learn who Sly Dunbar was and what contributions he made to the music industry.

Who was Sly Dunbar?

• Sly Dunbar’s real name was Lowell Fillmore Dunbar. He was a Jamaican drummer who was famous worldwide as part of the Sly & Robbie duo.
• At the age of 15, Sly started drumming in a band called The Yardbrooms. His first recording was on Dave and Ansell Collins’ album “Double Barrel.”
• In 1972, Sly met bass guitarist Robbie Shakespeare, and thus the legendary duo Sly and Robbie was born. Robbie Shakespeare passed away in 2021 at the age of 68.

Sly & Robbie: The Powerhouse Duo of Music

Sly and Robbie together made reggae music globally popular. Brian Eno once said that when you buy a reggae record, there’s a 90% chance that the drummer will be Sly Dunbar.

Sly Dunbar, the legendary Jamaican drummer who gained fame as a member of the production duo Sly & Robbie, has died.

Observer Online understands that Dunbar passed away on Monday morning. He was 73.https://t.co/BhNmU4UYNB pic.twitter.com/4QIKSNYETV

— Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) January 26, 2026

Which major artists have you worked with?

Sly & Robbie have worked on literally thousands of recordings. Some famous collaborations include:

✓ Bob Marley – played drums on tracks like “Punky Reggae Party”
✓ Bob Dylan – featured on the albums “Infidels” and “Empire Burlesque”
✓ Grace Jones – provided production and drumming on three albums
✓ Madonna, Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock – also worked with these international superstars
✓ Peter Tosh – collaborated for nearly a decade, making major contributions to the albums “Equal Rights” and “Bush Doctor”

Awards and Recognition

Sly Dunbar received 13 Grammy nominations and won two Grammy Awards:

• 1985: Best Reggae Recording for Black Uhuru’s album “Anthem” (as producer)
• 1999: Best Reggae Album for the album “Friends”

The Jamaican government awarded him the Order of Distinction, and in 2015, he received the Musgrave Gold Medal from the Institute of Jamaica.

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How did the news of his death come to light?

• On the morning of January 26th, at around 7 AM, Sly’s wife, Thelma, went to wake him up, but he was unresponsive. A doctor was called, who confirmed his death.
• Thelma said that Sly had been ill for some time, but January 25th had been a very good day. His friends had come to visit, and they all had a good time.
• The official cause of death has not been disclosed.

CONCLUSION

With the death of Sly Dunbar, the music world has lost a true gem. He was not just a drummer, but a rhythm architect who made reggae music globally acceptable.
Sly’s contribution was not limited to Jamaica alone – he left his mark on pop, rock, and jazz genres as well. His unique drumming style has inspired generations of musicians.