The reggae world lost one of its greatest innovators on January 26, 2026, with the passing of Lowell “Sly” Fillmore Dunbar. Sly was born on May 10, 1952, in Kingston, Jamaica. Sly Dunbar was widely celebrated as one half of the iconic rhythm section and production duo, Sly & Robbie, whose groundbreaking work helped shape the sound of reggae, dancehall, dub, and popular music worldwide. Known worldwide as the “Riddim Twins,” Sly & Robbie crafted some of the most influential rhythms in reggae history and contributed to thousands of recordings across reggae, dub, dancehall, rock, pop, and jazz.

Dunbar began playing drums at the age of fifteen with a band called The Yardbrooms. His first recording appearance came on the Dave and Ansell Collins album Double Barrel, and he later joined Ansell Collins’ band, Skin, Flesh and Bones, where he further developed the distinctive drumming style that would become his signature.

Sly credited many of Jamaica’s great drummers, including Lloyd Knibb of The Skatalites, Al Jackson Jr. of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and fellow Jamaican musicians such as Santa Davis, Carlton “Carly” Barrett, Paul Douglas, Mikey “Boo” Richards, and Winston Bennett, as musical influences. Drawing inspiration from these artists, he forged a unique rhythmic approach that would influence generations of drummers worldwide.

In 1972, Dunbar met bassist Robbie Shakespeare, then a member of the Hippy Boys. Their partnership would become one of the most successful and influential collaborations in modern music. Recommended by Shakespeare to producer Bunny Lee, Dunbar joined the Aggrovators as a session drummer, and together, Sly and Robbie quickly became the driving force behind countless classic reggae recordings. They also worked extensively with Peter Tosh, contributing to five of his albums between the 1970s and early 1980s.

In 1980, Sly and Robbie founded Taxi Records. This label would release music from numerous internationally acclaimed artists, including Black Uhuru, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Ini Kamoze, Beenie Man, and Red Dragon. Beyond his work as a producer, Dunbar became one of the most recorded drummers in history, performing with the Aggrovators for Bunny Lee, the Upsetters for Lee “Scratch” Perry, and the Revolutionaries for Joseph Hoo Kim.

Sly Dunbar’s drumming which features his iconic drum patterns and productions have powered some of reggae’s most enduring recordings, including Junior Murvin’s “Police and Thieves,” Lee Perry’s “Night Doctor,” and Bob Marley’s “Punky Reggae Party,” helping to define the sound of generations of reggae icons. Beyond reggae, Sly and Robbie’s reputation as world-class musicians led to collaborations with artists such as Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, and The Rolling Stones, helping to bring Jamaican rhythms to a global audience.

In his later years, Sly Dunbar continued his passion for music, including working on Larry McDonald’s Drumquestra project as well as an appearance in the 2011 film Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals.

Sly Dunbar has helped redefine the sound of reggae for more than five decades, through his innovative drumming and groundbreaking productions. Alongside Robbie Shakespeare, the legendary Riddim Twins created an extraordinary catalog of music that crossed genres, generations, and international borders.

Sly Dunbar’s musical legacy secures his place among the most recorded, influential, and celebrated drummers in modern music history.

Rest in Power, Sly! Your spirit lives on!