Sly and Robbie
PERHAPS NO other set of Jam-aican musicians have worked with established foreign artistes, like drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare.
Dubbed 'The Rhythm Twins', they are held in great respect for their contribution to the change in the reggae beat during the 1970s and for inspiring many successful Jamaican artistes.
Having had numerous gold and platinum records to their credit, last year they added a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with their compilation, Friends.
Musicologist Bunny Goodison said it was through their exploits at Channel One in the late 1970s that reggae took on an international image.
They started to infuse various foreign idioms with Jamaican music. Their famous Taxi label has been responsible for numerous local and international hits. They have worked with Simply Red, Cindy Lauper, Gwen Guthrie from a cadre of international artistes too large to name.
In addition to last year's Grammy, they shared in the success of the first ever reggae Grammy Award in 1985, as members of Black Uhuru. They also formed the core of slain Wailer Peter Tosh's touring outfit.
Since 1974, Sly and Robbie have been a major creative force in reggae music and these days they spend most of their hours each week at various studios around the city.
