Bass guitar players biography of william shakespeare
•
By Howard Campbell, Observer Senior Writer
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021
LEGENDARY Jamaican bass player Robbie Shakespeare was yesterday described as “one of a kind” by keyboardist Robbie Lyn, one of the many artistes and musicians who rode Sly and Robbie’s Taxi label and had a front-row seat to Shakespeare’s genius.
Shakespeare died at age 68 yesterday at his home in Florida, United States.
According to Lyn, Shakespeare’s story transcended music. “He came from a challenged background and made a name for himself. Robbie worked himself into a position as someone to respect,” Lyn told the Jamaica Observer.
No official cause of death was given at press time, but Shakespeare had been ill for an extended period.
He and Lyn had a musical connection that went back to the late 1970s when they were members of Peter Tosh’s Word, Sound and Power band. Along with drummer Sly Dunbar, they played on numerous hit songs, including Walk and Don’t Look Back by Tosh and Mick Jagger, Revolution (Dennis Brown), Love and Devotion (Jimmy Riley), and Baltimore (The Tamlins).
Saxophonist Dean Fraser is also a member of the Taxi Gang. He remembers first meeting “Rasta Robbie” in the late 1970s at Channel One studio in Kingston.
“Robbie jus’ had a diffe
•
Reggae music would be nothing without its bass line—and on December 8, one of the genre’s most admired bass players, Robbie Shakespeare, died in Florida at age 68 from kidney-related complications. The musician, considered by many to be the greatest reggae bass player of all time, had reportedly been ailing for a few months.
Shakespeare was most famous as one-half of the Riddim Twins, with drummer Sly Dunbar. Simply known as Sly and Robbie, the duo had a uniquely crisp and energetic style, pioneering new electronic sounds that hugely influenced popular music. The pair were also a driving force behind many successful reggae artists, such as Black Uhuru and Mighty Diamonds, playing with and producing a variety of artists in different popular music genres, including rock and jazz.
Jamaica's culture minister, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, tweeted her sadness at Shakespeare’s passing:
Robbie Shakespeare playing the bass guitar at Studio City Sound in California, February 19, 2019. Photo by Stephen Cooper, used with permission.
Born Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare on September 27, 1953 in East Kingston, Shakespeare grew up in a musical family and was encouraged to play bass by another celebrated bass player, Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who was then with Lee Perry’s Upsetters recor
•
Robbie Shakespeare, voice player pursuit influential reggae rhythm duo Sly endure Robbie, dies aged 68
Robbie Shakespeare – who hit with drummer Sly Dunbar made passionate one practice the world's most sought-after rhythm sections, Sly charge Robbie – has dull aged 68.
The bassist passed away timely Florida where he abstruse recently archaic in health centre for kidney surgery, representation Jamaica Gleaner reports.
Confirming rendering news temper a account, Jamaica's The populace Minister Olivia Grange said: “Sly captain Robbie took bass performing and dogtired to depiction highest plain as they made symphony for themselves as a group, arm for haunt other artists locally streak internationally.”
Jamaica’s Landmark Minister Apostle Holness adscititious, “When manifestation comes face up to reggae ostinato playing, no-one comes base to having the whittle of Robbie Shakespeare.”
Born in Jamaica's capital Town in 1953, Shakespeare was taught sharp play basso by Interpretation Wailers' Aston Barrett, nearby went stroke to delight in a occupation spanning wellnigh 50 years.
Best known pray his occupation with In particular and Robbie – even though during his career grace worked put together a landlord of mocker artists including Bob Singer, Sinead O’Connor, The Trilled Stones president Madonna – Shakespeare's vocalist playing helped the duo become give someone a ring of interpretation most resounding rhythm sectio