Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare (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, Shakespeare was also known for his creative use of electronics and production effects units. He was sometimes nicknamed "Basspeare".
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. Prior to his involvement in Sly and Robbie, he was a member of the session groups the Revolutionaries and the Aggrovators.
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In this episode, Paul Thompson breaks down the hit that made Grace Jones a pop star. The iconic bass line that kicks off “Pull Up to the Bumper” is an all-time groove by the late, great Robbie Shakespeare.
Another icon of the bass has left us. Reggae legend Robbie Shakespeare has passed away at the age of 68.
The dynamic duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare started their careers together in the early 1970s in Kingston. Now, the legendary reggae rhythm section has dropped a new album, “Red Hills Road”.
The legendary reggae rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare teamed up with Roots Radics for the album “The Final Battle.” Shakespeare’s simple yet perfect groove adds motion to the track, “This Morning.”
Reggae legends Sly & Robbie’s latest album pairs the duo with Japanese reggae group Spicy Chocolate. The album, The Reggae Power 2, also features late reggae great Bob Marley’s grandson, Skip. “Once we heard Skip’s record ‘Cry to Me’ we knew that we wanted to try and involve him in the album,” said bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who is one half...
