Catcha Vibe Mourns the Passing of Sly Dunbar
Rest in Riddim, Sly Dunbar
With heavy hearts and deep reverence, Catcha Vibe announces the passing of a true giant of music—Sly Dunbar. The world has lost one of its most influential drummers, producers, and musical architects. Sly was not just a rhythm maker; he was a force that shaped the sound of reggae and carried it far beyond Jamaica’s shores.
As one half of the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare laid the foundation for thousands of recordings and changed the way rhythm sections functioned in popular music. Their sound became a global heartbeat—instantly recognizable, endlessly adaptable, and deeply rooted.
Sly’s drumming powered and inspired an extraordinary range of artists, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, and Burning Spear. His influence didn’t stop there—he brought Jamaican riddim into conversation with the wider world, collaborating with artists like Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock, Serge Gainsbourg, Mick Jagger, Kazumi Watanabe, Monty Alexander, Sinead O'Connor and No Doubt, among countless others. Genre meant nothing to Sly—only feel, intention, and truth.
Sly Dunbar was a lifelong teacher to us. He showed us that groove is about patience, that space can speak louder than fills, and that consistency is power. His riddims taught generations how to listen—to the bass, to the song, to the moment. Every locked-in pocket, every fearless experiment, every respectful nod to the roots carries his fingerprint.
Sly Dunbar helped Jamaican music travel the world without losing its soul. His legacy lives on in studios, on stages, and wherever drums and bass come together in unity.
Blessings , love and strength to his family, his collaborators, and the global reggae family mourning this loss.
Rest in riddim, bredren.
The heartbeat you gave the world will never fade.
— Catcha Vibe
