Robbie Shakespeare

Robbie Shakespeare
Shakespeare performing at TFF Rudolstadt in 2015
Background information
Birth nameRobert Warren Dale Shakespeare
Born(1953-09-27)27 September 1953
Kingston, Jamaica
Died8 December 2021(2021-12-08) (aged 68)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals

Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare[1] (27 September 1953 – 8 December 2021) 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.[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]

  1. ^ "International Reggae Star, Robbie Shakespeare Passes On", Nationwide Radio, 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021
  2. ^ "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time". Bassplayer. February 2017.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Craig. "Robbie Shakespeare". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  4. ^ Hansen, Adam. Shakespeare and Popular Music. Bloomsbury Publishing, 23 September 2010, p. 143.
  5. ^ Greene, Jo-Anne. "Sly & Robbie". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  6. ^ Snowden, Don. "The Revolutionaries". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  7. ^ "The Agrrovators". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2016.