(CNN)Robbie Shakespeare, the legendary bass participant and one half of of the band Sly and Robbie, has died at the age of 68.
Shakespeare’s friend, supervisor and producer Guillaume Bougard confirmed the musician’s loss of life in an announcement to CNN on Thursday. Bougard said Shakespeare handed away in Miami on Wednesday on account of complications following kidney and liver transplants a year ago.
“We saved praying for a miracle, nonetheless it completely used to be now not sufficient,” Bougard said. “That is extremely significant.”
Bougard described his “friend and mentor” as an “absolute musical wizard.”
Shakespeare used to be one half of of reggae and dub duo Sly and Robbie, which he formed with drummer Sly Dunbar.
Born Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare in East Kingston, Jamaica, in 1953, Shakespeare used to be a prolific bassist who labored with reggae greats at the side of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Gregory Isaacs, Reuters stories.
He also played alongside about a of the sphere’s pleasant rock and pop stars, amongst them The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Grace Jones.
Shakespeare’s home country is mourning his passing.
Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s culture minister, said in an announcement Wednesday: “I’m in shock and sorrow after factual receiving the recommendations that my friend and brother, the legendary bassist Robbie Shakespeare has died.”
She added: “Robbie’s loss will seemingly be felt by the alternate at home and distant places. He will seemingly be sorely overlooked.”
Top Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to the musician.
Holness posted on Twitter: “When it comes to Reggae bass taking half in, no person comes cessation to having the impact of Robbie Shakespeare. He will seemingly be remembered for his advantageous contribution to the song alternate and Jamaica’s culture. May per chance even his soul Relaxation In Peace.”
Final year, Rolling Stone magazine featured Shakespeare in its listing of the “50 pleasant bassists of all time.” Of the Sly and Robbie partnership, the song publication said: “No other musical entity in the post-Marley period has been so omnipresent in shaping the sound of Jamaica and bringing it to the sphere.”
This sentiment used to be echoed by Grange, who said the pair were “amongst Jamaica’s pleasant musicians.”
Offering her “deepest condolences to those he leaves in the attend of,” she added: “This improbable personnel took bass taking half in and drumming to the pleasant stage as they made song for themselves as a community, and for many other artistes locally and internationally.”
Sly and Robbie produced song for movie soundtracks, at the side of “Poetic Justice.”
Shakespeare received 13 Grammy nominations, successful two awards — one in 1984 for many efficient reggae recording for “Anthem” and again in 1998 for many efficient reggae album for “Chums.”
Bougard added: “He is mainly the most prolific bass participant in historical past, having played bass on, and produced, bigger than 30,000 tracks for artists ranging from Bob Marley to Bob Dylan, Peter Tosh to Paul McCartney, Dark Uhuru to Madonna amongst hundreds of others.
“He used to be mentored early in his profession by Aston Barrett, Bob Marley’s bassist, and snappy chanced on his have signature — heavy, yet musical, thunderous yet sweet.”
