By Status Ain't Hood Staff
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February 12, 2026
Two-time Grammy Award-winning Jamaican drummer Sly Dunbar, whose powerful rhythms shaped generations of reggae and rock recordings, has died at the age of 73. His wife, Thelma Dunbar, confirmed his passing to the Jamaica Gleaner. As one-half of the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie alongside bassist Robbie Shakespeare, Dunbar became one of the most sought-after drummers in modern music, contributing to countless hits across genres. Known as part of the influential “Riddim Twins,” Dunbar and Shakespeare played on classics by Bob Marley, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh, while also collaborating internationally with artists including Grace Jones, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Serge Gainsbourg. Dunbar’s drumming powered tracks such as Junior Murvin’s “Police and Thieves,” Marley’s “Punky Reggae Party” and Dave and Ansell Collins’ “Double Barrel.” He also worked with acts outside reggae, including Joe Cocker, No Doubt, Sinead O’Connor and Carly Simon, helping introduce reggae’s rhythmic innovation to global audiences. Dunbar earned 13 Grammy nominations and won twice — for Black Uhuru’s Anthem, which captured the first-ever Grammy for Best Reggae Recording in 1985, and for Sly and Robbie’s Friends in 1999. In 1980, he co-founded Taxi Records with Shakespeare, nurturing artists such as Shaggy, Shabba Ranks and Beenie Man. Tributes poured in from across the music world, with UB40’s Ali Campbell noting that modern beats “wouldn’t be what they are” without Dunbar’s pioneering influence, cementing his legacy as one of reggae’s greatest drummers.