Sly Dunbar: Last News

Prolific reggae musician and producer Robbie Shakespeare, best known as one half of Sly & Robbie, has died. He was 68.According to The Jamaican Gleaner, Shakespeare had been in ill health for some time and had recently undergone kidney surgery in Florida, where he was living.“I am in shock and sorrow after just receiving the news that my friend and brother, the legendary bassist Robbie Shakespeare has died”, said Jamaica’s Minister Of Culture, Gender, Entertainment And Sport, Olivia Grange, in a statement.“Robbie and Sly Dunbar, as Sly and Robbie, have been among Jamaica’s greatest musicians”, she went on.

Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie.Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the influential rhythm section Sly and Robbie with drummer Sly Dunbar. The partnership began in Jamiaca in the 1970’s and they became a sought after rhythm section for many reggae legends including Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru.

The Jamaica Gleaner that Shakespeare had recently undergone surgery related to his kidneys. The Jamaican artist was hospitalised in Florida.Shakespeare, an iconic bassist, formed Sly and Robbie with drummer Sly Dunbar in the mid-70s after having both worked separately in other bands.

Robbie Shakespeare, whose influential work as a bassist and record producer saw him nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, has died at the age of 68. He died at a hospital in Florida, according to news reports, where he was recently undergoing surgery related to his kidneys.

Bob Dylan is gearing up to release a new seven-inch single featuring an unreleased version of ‘Blind Willie McTell’.The new vinyl will arrive on August 20 via Jack White‘s Third Man Records.Dylan’s original track initially emerged from the sessions for his 1983 album ‘Infidels’, but didn’t make the final album cut and a first version didn’t arrive until 1991, when it featured on ‘The Bootleg Series Volumes 1 – 3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991’.While the original track featured a stripped-back acoustic piano-guitar rendition led by Dylan and Mark Knopfler, the new seven-inch features two full-band takes featuring Dylan, Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.Only the A-side of the single (‘take 1’) will only be available on

Toots And The Maytals, Ziggy Marley and Ringo Starr have teamed up on a new cover of a Bob Marley classic.The new collaboration, which will feature on Toots And The Maytals’ new album, also features Starr’s son Zak Starkey and Sly And Robbie’s Sly Dunbar.The musicians have put their own spin on Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’, transforming it into an upbeat, horn-laced track. Starr provides percussion on the song, while Ziggy Marley and Frederick “Toots” Hibbert swap vocals.The cover will appear on ‘Got To Be Tough’, Toots And The Maytals’ first new record in over a decade.