Sly and Robbie

Sly and Robbie are probably reggae's most prolific and long lasting production team. The rhythm section of drummer Lowell Dunbar (nicknamed Sly after Sly Stone, one of his favorite musicians) and bass guitarist Robert Shakespeare started working together in the mid 1970's, after having established themselves separately on the Jamaican music scene.

Related Topics:
Reggae - Rhythm section - Drummer - Lowell Dunbar - Sly Stone - Bass guitar - Robert Shakespeare

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Sly and Robbie may well be the most prolific recording artists ever. One staggering estimate is that they have played on or produced some 200,000 songs.http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:grk9ikk6bbc9~T1

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Before joining forces, Sly was drumming for the Skin Flesh and Bones band and Robbie was the bass player for the Aggrovators. They also used to play in clubs (Sly at Tit for Tat and Robbie at Evil People), and used to check each other out. They found out that they had the same ideas about music in general (both are huge fans of Motown, Philly Sound and Country & Western), and Reggae production in particular. They first worked together for the newly created Channel One label and studio, operated by the Hoo Kim brothers.

Related Topics:
Motown - Country & Western

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They changed the face of Reggae several times: in 1976, they introduced a harder beat called "Rockers", which quickly replaced the then prevalent "One drop" style, then introduced the "rub a dub" sound in the early 1980's. Sly and Robbie were important in developing the trend towards computer assisted music and programmming in the mid 1980's.

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Also in the early 1980's they introduced a novel sound with the mega hit "Bam Bam and Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus & Pliers. Chaka Demus' rough DJ vocals were matched with Pliers' sweet, melodic, soul-influenced singing; this unusal vocal pairing was championed by Sly and Robbie. This formula has since been used with great success by the likes of Shaggy (who teamed up with singers Rayvon or Rik Rok), Shabba Ranks, Maxi Priest and others. This predates and may have influenced the recent trend in some rap music where a song's "hook" or chorus is sung by a guest, while the verses are rapped.

Related Topics:
Chaka Demus & Pliers - Shaggy - Rayvon - Rik Rok - Shabba Ranks - Maxi Priest - Rap music

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In the "Bam Bam" style, Sly introduced Indian tabla sounds in his drum beats, while Robbie altogether stopped playing bass, using keyboards instead.

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In 2003 they released a DJ mix album, , as part of the Late Night Tales series for Azuli Records.

Related Topics:
Late Night Tales - Azuli Records

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Sly & Robbie continue to innovate during the 90's and early 2000's, fusing Dancehall and Latin music sounds (La Trenggae) or Dancehall and Hip Hop/R&B (their 2004 Big Up riddim).

Related Topics:
Latin music - Hip Hop - R&B

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Far from restricting themselves to the Jamaican scene, (in which they have played for virtually every prominent Jamaican musical artist from Beenie Man to Sean Paul to Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs Dennis Brown and others), they have been one of pop music's most famous rhythm section, playing for and producing superstars such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Joan Armatrading, Gilberto Gil, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, Simply Red, Michael Franti, Sting, Khaled, Tricky, Doug E. Fresh, Carlos Santana and many more.

Related Topics:
Beenie Man - Sean Paul - Peter Tosh - Black Uhuru - Gregory Isaacs - Dennis Brown - Bob Dylan - Mick Jagger - Rolling Stones - Grace Jones - Joan Armatrading - Gilberto Gil - Joe Cocker - Serge Gainsbourg - Simply Red - Michael Franti - Sting - Khaled - Tricky - Doug E. Fresh - Carlos Santana

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After 30 years together, they still tour relentlessly. Their last US tour was with Tony Rebel and Half Pint.

Related Topics:
Tony Rebel - Half Pint

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