Robbie Shakespeare, influential Sly and Robbie bassist, dies ...

Robbie Shakespeare

Jamaican bass guitarist (–)

Robbie Shakespeare

Shakespeare performing at TFF Rudolstadt in

Birth nameRobert Warren Dale Shakespeare
Born()27 September
Kingston, Jamaica
Died8 December () (aged&#;68)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Instruments

Musical artist

Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare[1] (27 September – 8 December ) was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the reggaerhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie, with drummer Sly Dunbar.

Regarded as one of the most influential reggae bassists,[2] Shakespeare was also known for his creative use of electronics and production effects units.[3] He was sometimes nicknamed "Basspeare".[4]

As a part of Sly and Robbie, Shakespeare worked with various reggae artists such as U-Roy, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, Augustus Pablo, Yellowman, and Black Uhuru.

His production work also extended beyond the reggae genre, covering various pop and rock artists such as Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Yoko Ono, Serge Gainsbourg, and Grace Jones.[3][5] Prior to his involvement in Sly and Robbie, he was a member of the session groups the Revolutionaries and the Aggrovators.[6][7]

Career

Shakespeare grew up in East Kingston, Jamaica.

He had a musical family, such that "his family home was a rehearsal and hangout spot for a variety of upcoming musicians and singers."[8] His brother Lloyd had a band called the Emotions which rehearsed in the house. Shakespeare's first instrument was an acoustic guitar that was always present in the home. Later, the bass player Aston "Family Man" Barrett came into his yard, as it was near a popular location for selling marijuana.[8] Shakespeare had been trying acoustic guitar and drums, but when he heard Family Man's bass playing, he was attracted to the deep bass sound.

William shakespeare biography video Influential Jamaican reggae artist Robbie Shakespeare - one half of the duo Sly and Robbie - has died aged He died in Florida where he had recently been in hospital for kidney surgery, the Jamaica Gleaner reports. The prolific bassist and music producer is credited with revolutionising the sound of reggae and dancehall music. Jamaica's Culture Minister Olivia Grange announced his death and said Shakespeare was one of the country's great musicians. This article contains content provided by Twitter.

Shakespeare recalled saying "I wan fi learn how to play this thing [bass]. You haffi teach me",[8] and Barrett agreed to give Shakespeare bass lessons.

Shakespeare first went in a music studio when he helped carry Family Man's brother Carlton Barrett's drums into the studio and help set up the drums.

This developed into sneaking into the studio and waiting outside as bands recorded.[8] Whenever Family Man recorded, Shakespeare would try to both listen to the session and watch the bass player's hands; afterwards at Shakespeare's family house,[8] the bassist would show Shakespeare in person the basslines that had been recorded.

Shakespeare continued to study electric bass with Aston Barrett, the bass player from the Upsetters.[9] He collaborated with the drummer Sly Dunbar for the first time when they played in the Channel One Studio house band, which was called the Revolutionaries.[10] After Barrett joined the Wailers, Shakespeare took over the bass role in Barrett's former group, Hippy Boys.

In , Shakespeare and Dunbar started an independent music production company and record label called Taxi Records.[10]

Death

Shakespeare died following kidney surgery in Florida, on 8 December , at the age of [11][12] Reports state that the musician had been suffering from kidney related issues, including a rejected organ, and was on dialysis.[13]

Equipment

Basses

Amps

Selected discography

Main article: Sly and Robbie discography

Sly and Robbie albums

Collaborations

With Joan Armatrading

With Gary Barlow

  • Sing (Decca Records, )

With Dennis Brown

  • Visions of Dennis Brown (Joe Gibbs Music, )
  • Words of Wisdom (Joe Gibbs Music, )
  • Spellbound (Joe Gibbs Music, )
  • Foul Play (A&M Records, )
  • Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Joe Gibbs Music, )
  • Love's Got A Hold On Me (Joe Gibbs Music, )
  • Hold Tight (Live & Learn, )
  • Brown Sugar (Taxi Records, )
  • Good Vibrations (Yvonne's Special, )
  • Cosmic (Observer, )
  • Give Prasies (Tappa, )

With Jackson Browne

With Jimmy Cliff

  • Follow My Mind (Reprise Records, )
  • Give the People What They Want (MCA Records, )
  • Cliff Hanger (CBS Records, )
  • Humanitarian (Eureka Records, )

With Joe Cocker

With Bootsy Collins

With Carlene Davis

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

With Ian Dury

With Bob Dylan

With Gwen Guthrie

  • Gwen Guthrie (Island Records, )
  • Portrait (Island Records, )

With Mick Jagger

With Garland Jeffreys

With Grace Jones

With Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

With Jenny Morris

With Yoko Ono

With Sinéad O'Connor

With Augustus Pablo

With Carly Simon

With Simply Red

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

With Barry Reynolds

  • I Scare Myself (Island Records, )

With Sting

  • 44/ (A&M Records, )

With Peter Tosh

Appearances in media

Shakespeare appeared in the documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured on BBC and described as "The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica" (see Toots&#;and the Maytals).[19][20] Both Robbie and Sly were featured in the recording sessions of the album Hurricane by Grace Jones, in the documentary Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, by Sophie Fiennes, about the model/singer Grace Jones.

Shakespeare also appeared in the movie Rockers as himself.[21]

References

  1. ^"International Reggae Star, Robbie Shakespeare Passes On", Nationwide Radio, 8 December Retrieved 8 December
  2. ^"The Greatest Bass Players of All Time". Bassplayer.

    February

  3. ^ abHarris, Craig.

    Robbie shakespeare biography video Online Reggae Magazine. Articles about reggae music, reviews, interviews, reports and more Subscribe to Newsletter ». Raised in East Kingston, his family home was a rehearsal and hangout spot for a variety of upcoming musicians and singers. Picking up the guitar first, he gravitated to the bass having been inspired by the music of Jackie Jackson of Treasure Isle and the guidance of Aston "Familyman" Barrett.

    "Robbie Shakespeare". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February

  4. ^Hansen, Adam. Shakespeare and Popular Music. Bloomsbury Publishing, 23 September , p.
  5. ^Greene, Jo-Anne. "Sly & Robbie". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February
  6. ^Snowden, Don. "The Revolutionaries". AllMusic.

    Retrieved 14 February

  7. ^"The Agrrovators". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February
  8. ^ abcdeTaylor, Angus (26 June ). "Interview: Robbie Shakespeare". . United Reggae. Retrieved 3 January
  9. ^The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll.

    Third Edition.

    Robbie shakespeare biography video for kids This tribute is particularly difficult to write because it quickly connects more than one emotion. So much of this has to do with my friend and bass player of choice, Robbie Shakespeare, an extraordinary bassist, remarkable producer, globally regarded, and a terrific musician. If the lights and details reflected his name alone in any musical credit or marquee notification, it would resonate for anyone with even a casual affinity for reggae music. Considering whatever imperfections there were, he was an exceptional representation of humanity. Not only was he an accomplished and decorated member of the music and cultural fraternity, but with all his achievements and embellishments, he remained humble, a regular guy, an ordinary man.

    Edited by Holly George-Warren and Patricia Romanowski. Fireside, a Rolling Stone Press Book. London.

  10. ^ abHarris, Craig.

    Remembering Robbie Shakespeare, the Legendary Bassist Behind ...: Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare [1] (27 September – 8 December ) was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the reggae rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie, with drummer Sly Dunbar.

    "Artist Biography by Craig Harris". . Allmusic. Retrieved 3 January

  11. ^Mason, Peter (9 December ). "Robbie Shakespeare obituary". The Guardian.

    Robbie shakespeare biography video questions

    Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare [ 1 ] 27 September — 8 December was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer, best known as half of the reggae rhythm section and production duo Sly and Robbie , with drummer Sly Dunbar. Regarded as one of the most influential reggae bassists, [ 2 ] Shakespeare was also known for his creative use of electronics and production effects units. Shakespeare grew up in East Kingston, Jamaica. He had a musical family, such that "his family home was a rehearsal and hangout spot for a variety of upcoming musicians and singers. Shakespeare's first instrument was an acoustic guitar that was always present in the home.

    Retrieved 9 December

  12. ^Peru, Yasmine (8 December ), Yasmine Peru, "Sly and Robbie's Robbie Shakespeare has died", The Star. Retrieved 8 December
  13. ^Samuels, Ramona (9 December ), Ramona Samuels, "Robbie Shakespeare, Half of the legendary Reggae duo Sly & Robbie, has died", Caribbean National Weekly.

    Retrieved 9 December

  14. ^"Bassplayer".
  15. ^ abcdTaylor, Angus (26 June ). "Interview: Robbie Shakespeare". United Reggae: Online Reggae Magazine. Retrieved 27 March
  16. ^Katz, David (1 June ).

    "Reggae Superheroes Sly and Robbie made , songs – These are their 16 greatest".

  17. Remembering Robbie Shakespeare, the Legendary Bassist Behind ...
  19. Robbie Shakespeare, influential Sly and Robbie bassist, dies ...

    20. FACT: Music News, New Music.

  20. ^"Markbass SA ". Retrieved 14 February
  21. ^"Markbass TA ". Retrieved 14 February
  22. ^"Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul". BBC Four (documentary).

  23. Details
  24. Robbie Shakespeare, Discography - United Reggae
  25. Item 6 of 9
  26. Robbie Shakespeare in the studio - YouTube
  27. Item 3 of 9

    28. Directed by George Scott. UK. 59 min. Retrieved 15 December

  28. ^Toots and the Maytals. "Toots & The Maytals - Reggae Got Soul - Documentary Trailer". YouTube, 15 August Web. 15 December
  29. ^Campbell, Howard (17 August ). "Still Rocking at 35". Jamaica Observer.

External links