Robbie Shakespeare

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]

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
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals

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. 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 1979, Shakespeare and Dunbar started an independent music production company and record label called Taxi Records.[10]

Robbie Shakespeare in 1978

Death

Shakespeare died following kidney surgery in Florida, on 8 December 2021, at the age of 68.[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, 2012)

With Dennis Brown

  • Visions of Dennis Brown (Joe Gibbs Music, 1978)
  • Words of Wisdom (Joe Gibbs Music, 1979)
  • Spellbound (Joe Gibbs Music, 1980)
  • Foul Play (A&M Records, 1981)
  • Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Joe Gibbs Music, 1982)
  • Love's Got A Hold On Me (Joe Gibbs Music, 1984)
  • Hold Tight (Live & Learn, 1986)
  • Brown Sugar (Taxi Records, 1986)
  • Good Vibrations (Yvonne's Special, 1989)
  • Cosmic (Observer, 1992)
  • Give Prasies (Tappa, 1993)

With Jackson Browne

With Jimmy Cliff

  • Follow My Mind (Reprise Records, 1975)
  • Give the People What They Want (MCA Records, 1981)
  • Cliff Hanger (CBS Records, 1985)
  • Humanitarian (Eureka Records, 1999)

With Joe Cocker

With Bootsy Collins

With Carlene Davis

  • At the Right Time (Carib Gems, 1980)
  • Paradise (Orange Records, 1984)
  • Taking Control (Nicole Records, 1987)
  • Yesterday Today Forever (Nicole Records, 1987)
  • Christmas Reggae Rock (Nicole Records, 1988)
  • Carlene Davis (Eko Records, 1992)

With Ian Dury

With Bob Dylan

With Gwen Guthrie

  • Gwen Guthrie (Island Records, 1982)
  • Portrait (Island Records, 1983)

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 Carly Simon

With Simply Red

  • Life (East West Records, 1995)
  • Blue (East West Records, 1998)

With Barry Reynolds

  • I Scare Myself (Island Records, 1982)

With Sting

With Peter Tosh

Appearances in media

Shakespeare appeared in the 2011 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.

References
  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. 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.
  8. Taylor, Angus (26 June 2012). "Interview: Robbie Shakespeare". unitedreggae.com. United Reggae. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  9. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll. Third Edition. Edited by Holly George-Warren and Patricia Romanowski. Fireside, a Rolling Stone Press Book. London. 2001
  10. Harris, Craig. "Artist Biography by Craig Harris". allmusic.com. Allmusic. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  11. Mason, Peter (9 December 2021). "Robbie Shakespeare obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. Peru, Yasmine (8 December 2021), Yasmine Peru, "Sly and Robbie's Robbie Shakespeare has died", The Star. Retrieved 8 December 2021
  13. Samuels, Ramona (9 December 2021), Ramona Samuels, "Robbie Shakespeare, Half of the legendary Reggae duo Sly & Robbie, has died", Caribbean National Weekly. Retrieved 9 December 2021
  14. "Bassplayer".
  15. Taylor, Angus (26 June 2012). "Interview: Robbie Shakespeare". United Reggae: Online Reggae Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  16. Katz, David (1 June 2016). "Reggae Superheroes Sly and Robbie made 200,000 songs – These are their 16 greatest". FACT: Music News, New Music.
  17. "Markbass SA 450". Markbass.it. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  18. "Markbass TA 503". Markbass.it. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  19. "Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul". BBC Four (documentary). Directed by George Scott. UK. 2011. 59 min. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  20. Toots and the Maytals. "Toots & The Maytals - Reggae Got Soul - Documentary Trailer". YouTube, 15 August 2013. Web. 15 December 2016.
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