Lowell Fillmore "Sly" Dunbar (10 May 1952 – 26 January 2026) was a Jamaican drummer, best known as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie.

Life and career

Dunbar was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on 10 May 1952. He 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 with Ansell Collins called Skin, Flesh and Bones.

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. 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."

Dunbar and Shakespeare formed their Taxi Records label in 1980. It has seen releases from many international successful artists, including Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ini Kamoze, Beenie Man and Red Dragon.

Sly and Robbie also played on Bob Dylan's albums Infidels and Empire Burlesque (using recordings from the Infidels sessions). Other sessions include their appearance on three Grace Jones albums, and work with Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg and the Rolling Stones.

Dunbar appeared in the 2011 documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured on the BBC.

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."

Dunbar died from cancer at his home in Kingston, Jamaica, on 26 January 2026, at the age of 73.

Awards

Sly Dunbar was 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.

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)

Grammy Wins

  • 1999: Best Reggae Album, Friends
  • 1985: Best Reggae Recording, "Anthem"

Collaborations

With Joan Armatrading

  • Walk Under Ladders (A&M Records, 1981)

With Gary Barlow

  • Sing (Decca Records, 2012)

With Dennis Brown

  • Visions of Dennis Brown (Joe Gibbs Music, 1978)
  • Words of Wisdom (Joe Gibbs Music, 1979)
  • Joseph's Coat (Joe Gibbs Music, 1979)
  • Spellbound (Joe Gibbs Music, 1980)
  • Foul Play (A&M Records, 1981)
  • More Dennis Brown (Yvonne's Special, 1981)
  • Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Joe Gibbs Music, 1982)
  • Love's Got a Hold on Me (Joe Gibbs Music, 1984)
  • Hold Tight (Live & Learn, 1986)
  • Brown Sugar (Taxi Records, 1986)
  • Good Vibrations (Yvonne's Special, 1989)
  • Cosmic (Observer, 1992)
  • Limited Edition (VP Records, 1992)
  • Give Prasies (Tappa, 1993)

With Jackson Browne

  • World in Motion (Elektra Records, 1989)

With Jimmy Cliff

  • Follow My Mind (Reprise Records, 1975)
  • Give the People What They Want (MCA Records, 1981)
  • Special (Columbia Records, 1982)
  • Cliff Hanger (CBS Records, 1985)
  • Humanitarian (CBS Records, 1999)

With Joe Cocker

  • Sheffield Steel (Island Records, 1982)

With Bootsy Collins

  • Play with Bootsy (Thump, 2002)

With Carlene Davis

  • At the Right Time (Carib Gems, 1980)
  • Paradise (Orange Records, 1984)
  • Taking Control (Nicole Records, 1987)
  • Yesterday Today Forever (Nicole Records, 1987)
  • Christmas Reggae Rock (Nicole Records, 1988)
  • Carlene Davis (Eko Records, 1992)

With Ian Dury

  • Lord Upminster (Polydor Records, 1981)

With Bob Dylan

  • Infidels (Columbia Records, 1983)
  • Empire Burlesque (Columbia Records, 1985)
  • Down in the Groove (Columbia Records, 1988)

With Gwen Guthrie

  • Gwen Guthrie (Island Records, 1982)
  • Portrait (Island Records, 1983)
  • Good to Go Lover (Polydor Records, 1986)

With Nona Hendryx

  • Nona (RCA Records, 1983)

With Mick Jagger

  • She's the Boss (Columbia Records, 1985)

With Garland Jeffreys

  • Don't Call Me Buckwheat (BMG, 1991)
  • Wildlife Dictionary (RCA Records, 1997)

With Grace Jones

  • Warm Leatherette (Island Records, 1980)
  • Nightclubbing (Island Records, 1981)
  • Living My Life (Island Records, 1982)
  • Hurricane (PIAS Recordings, 2008)

With Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

  • Hey World! (EMI, 1986)

With Jenny Morris

  • Honeychild (East West, 1991)

With Yoko Ono

  • Starpeace (PolyGram Records, 1985)

With Sinéad O'Connor

  • Throw Down Your Arms (Chocolate and Vanilla, 2005)

With Barry Reynolds

  • I Scare Myself (Island Records, 1982)

With Carly Simon

  • Hello Big Man (Warner Bros. Records, 1983)

With Simply Red

  • Life (East West Records, 1995)
  • Blue (East West Records, 1998)

With The Rolling Stones

  • Undercover (Rolling Stones Records, 1983)

With Peter Tosh

  • Equal Rights (EMI, 1977)
  • Bush Doctor (EMI, 1978)
  • Mystic Man (EMI, 1979)
  • Wanted Dread & Alive (Capitol Records, 1981)
  • Mama Africa (EMI, 1983)

References

  • Sly Dunbar biography @ Drummerworld.com