Bounty Killer, Shaggy, Chaka Demus Hail Robbie Shakespeare
Two of Dancehall’s biggest giants Bounty Killer and Shaggy are among the scores of musicians who have paid tribute to late legendary bass guitarist Robbie Shakespeare, for the indelible contribution they said he made in their music careers.
“Hate to have to ever made post like these folks another milestone lost for Jamaica music fraternity since we had no industry still🇯🇲👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿🇯🇲. Deepest sympathy and condolences goes out the his family and close ones💐,” Bounty Killer noted on Wednesday on his Instagram page following the news of the passing of Shakespeare, the man regarded as a massive influence to bass players globally.
Shortly afterwards the Warlord posted another photo, this time of himself, Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar the other half of the production duo, who produced his and Lady Saw’s Grammy-winning singles Hey Baby and Underneath It All with No Doubt for the group’s 2X Platinum Rock Steady album.
“Five months ago I posted this photo on set the making of Hey Baby my biggest hit song so far in my career words cannot describe the sadness and pain the whole reggae fraternity facing today my deepest sympathy and condolences to his immediate family relatives and friends we love and will always miss you Bya🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾,” Bounty stated.
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An obviously distraught Shaggy also made two posts, one of which was simply a blackout. “R.I.P. not a good day”, he wrote.
His subsequent post featured a series of photographs of Shakespeare and himself over the years, as well as Sly and their other musical colleagues in happier times.
“Thank you my brother for the wonderful memories! You have made me a better person and a better artist, rest well!! You will be in my heart forever!! #friend #mentor #musician #brother #robbieshakespeare @bereshammond,” he wrote.
Chaka Demus and Pliers, whose biggest hit Murder She Wrote, from their 1993 album, Tease Me, was produced by Sly and Robbie on the infectious Bam-Bam riddim, declared Shakespeare’s passing as a huge loss for Jamaica and the world.
Chaka Demus dubbed Shakespeare a huge motivator for him.
“This tough. Robbie. One of my biggest encourager. Best Bass player I know. A huge loss ,only Jah know still. Only Jah Know. Gone too soon #robbieshakespeare,” he wrote on Instagram, while Pliers stated: “Rest in Power my brother…one of the best bass player inna the world! Your music will live on…. Thank you for all the beautiful sounds you have given us over the years. 🙏🙏🎸 🎸 Jah guide…
There were tributes to Robbie as well from other musical giants including Sting, Sean Paul, Lieutenant Stitchie, Tony Rebel, and Tarrus Riley.
Also offering condolences were Macka Diamond, Cham, Jesse Royal, Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Robbie, born Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare, was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica to a musical family. As one half of the legendary production duo Sly & Robbie, he covered various genres, and over the decades worked with other superstars such as the late Dennis Brown, Gregory Issacs, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Grace Jones.
Robbie, along with Sly, played in Peter Tosh’s Word, Sound and Power Band which was formed in 1976. Together, they are said to have played on more than 200,000 songs, dating back to The Mighty Diamonds’ Right Time in 1976.