By Fred Zindi
Another loss to the reggae world.
My Jamaican friend, Coval Baker, sent me a WhatsApp message on Tuesday asking me if I was aware that Robbie Shakespeare had died. That was the first time I received the news and I went into shock and sorrow. Coval knew that I knew this Grammy-winning bassist together with Sly Dunbar as I had told him a story about how I had met the duo way back in 1986 during Peter Tosh’s tour of the United Kingdom.
Since we had heard that Peter Tosh was in town, Walton Dangarembizi, aka DJ Walla, Louis Mhlanga, Raymond Zivanai and I had gone to Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, London to watch him perform. Peter Tosh had flown in an entourage of 14 musicians on this trip. These included a horn section of three brass players, two keyboards players a percussionist, three backing vocalists who called themselves Word Sound And Power, two guitarists and of course the famous rhythm section of bass and drums, which was manned by the Taxi Gang of Robbie Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar.
I had heard so much about Sly and Robbie and had seen their names on many reggae album sleeves, but I had never met them.
As we disembarked off the 214 bus at Finsbury Park Station I noticed two dreadlocked men walking down the street towards the Rainbow Theatre, the venue where Peter Tosh was scheduled to perform.
They were eating chips which were wrapped in white conical-shaped news print paper.
I said to Walla in excitement: “Hey that is Sly and Robbie!” Walla responded with: “Don’t be stupid. How can two superstars walk in the street like that eating chips and no one would notice them?” I went over to them and greeted them:. “Sly and Robbie, How are you? Can we have autographs please!” They were surprised to know that there were people who knew them in London. Both of them humbly put their chips aside. We borrowed a pen from a passer-by and they signed their names for us.
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That was my first encounter with Robbie Shakespeare. The following year, I met him just after Peter Tosh’s death in Kingston Jamaica when he was working on basslines in his studio. He had forgotten me until I reminded him of our meeting in London. He called Sly and asked him: “Remember the African bredren we met in London?” Sly went: “ No man noting nah go so. Is what him doing inna Jamaica?”
I explained to them why I had visited Jamaica and we became friends as they allowed me to sit in while they continued to work.
Robbie Shakespeare, acclaimed bassist and record producer, died last week in Florida, US at the age of 68. As stated earlier, the Jamaican artiste was part of the duo Sly and Robbie in reggae circles. This duo would spend time in the studio working on ‘riddims’ which most singers we know in Reggae today would take and do voice overs to create songs. In other words, they created and influenced the Jamaican reggae rhythms.
The duo, Sly and Robbie have had a long history together. They met in the mid-70s after Shakespeare had already carved out his own music career from a young age. The pair bonded over their varied taste in music but specifically their interest in reggae production. Their breakout work was on Mighty Diamonds’ 1976 album Right Time. In the following decade, their status grew as they worked with a variety of other non-reggae artistes such as Joe Cocker, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Grace Jones. They were also responsible for influential shifts in reggae music as it headed to digital, introducing the “Rockers” beat and later working with Chaka Demus and Pliers to create a novel sound that distinguished songs such as Bam Bam and Murder She Wrote.
In the 2011 documentary, Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals, they were described as “one of the most influential artistes ever to come out of Jamaica”. Every famous artiste, especially in Jamaica expressed the desire to work with the Taxi Gang.
Although the pair is mostly known for the production work in reggae music, they were also very versatile as they worked with many non-reggae artistes.
Robbie, together with Sly also worked with artistes such as Madonna, Bob Dylan, Sting, Serge Gainsbourg and Britney Spears.
According to the Jamaican Gleaner, Robbie Shakespeare had recently undergone surgery related to his kidneys at a hospital in Florida where he died. His death shocked the whole world.
Many Zimbabwean artistes who have listened to basslines created by the late Robbie Shakespeare have expressed sadness over his passing on. Master Pablo Nakappa, bass player with Transit Crew had this to say: “As a reggae fan, I am deeply saddened by the passing on of this legend. I grew up idolising this man. He played for many greats such as Gwen Guthrie, Grace Jones, Black Uhuru and many others. He was widely known for his work in the Taxi Gang. Rest in peace Jahman.’’
Eyahra Mathazia, a Zimbabwean artiste who released the album Jah Worx commented: “Reggae will never be the same again. I had the pleasure to work with him and the remaining Wailers on my Jah Worx album. He did a couple of tracks on my simple Thank You album and some of the tracks coming out on my album next year. He gave soul to music and was serious in getting it right. Rest in peace, elder!”
Robert Musarurwa an amateur bass player, remarked, “This is heartbreaking news. My mentor said to me that if I want to be an excellent bass player, I need to copy the lines from Robbie Shakespeare. I have been emulating his riffs and my dream was to meet him one day, but that dream has now been shattered. However, I will continue to model my bass playing around his. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness acknowledged and recognised Robbie Shakespeare’s contribution to music with these words:
“When it comes to reggae bass playing, no one comes close to having the influence of Robbie Shakespeare. He will be remembered for his sterling contribution to the music industry and Jamaica’s culture.”
The Jamaican minister of Entertainment and Culture, Olivia Babsy Grange also commented: “I am in shock and sorrow after just receiving the news that my friend and brother, the legendary bassist Robbie Shakespeare, has died,”. “Robbie and Sly Dunbar as Sly and Robbie have been among Jamaica’s greatest musicians.”
ROBBIE Shakespeare had been nominated for 13 Grammys in his career and won twice, once in 1984 for best reggae recording for Anthem and then in 1998 for best reggae album for Friends.
In 2020, Shakespeare was placed at 17 on Rolling Stone’s greatest bassists of all time list. Commenting on the list, Shakespeare had this to say: “I appreciate the fact that others looking in can see what we are doing for the music,” . “This makes me feel like a baby.”
To all those who have been following the history of reggae music over the years you will appreciate that Shakespeare’s work will never ever be forgotten. Simply put, he was phenomenal with his exhilarating bass grooves.
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