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Robbie Shakespeare Biography

robbie-shakespeare
  • Born: September 27, 1953 in Kingston, Jamaica
  • Years Active: 1970s-2000s
  • Member of: Black Uhuru
  • Genre: World & Reggae

When it comes to reggae bass playing, no one comes close to having the influence of Robbie Shakespeare. As one half of the Riddim Twins, a studio duo that he shares with drummer Sly Dunbar, Shakespeare has played on a very long list of albums. In addition to recording and/or producing albums for reggae artists including U-Roy, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Culture, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff, Mighty Diamonds, Sugar Minnott, Pablo MoSes, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Augustus Pablo, Yellowman, and Black Uhuru, he and Dunbar have supplied their rhythmic and studio expertise to albums by such pop and rock stars as Mick Jagger, Joan Armatrading, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Yoko Ono, Grace Jones, and Ian Dury. With their own albums, they set the standard for scaled-down, bass and drum dubbing. A veteran of such session bands as Bunny Lee's Aggrovators, Shakespeare first collaborated with Dunbar as members of Channel One Studio house band, the Revolutionaries. Deciding to try their luck as a duo, in 1974 they formed an independent production company and record label, Taxi Records. Their first production, "Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus and Pliers was a major hit and set them off on a path of success that has yet to abate. Shakespeare has continued to expand the possibilities of his bass playing. Known for his creative use of electronics and production effects, he and Dunbar recorded an electro-reggae album with imaginative DJ Howie B. Shakespeare and Dunbar have produced the soundtracks for several films including Club Pardise, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Poetic Justice, and the all-time best grossing Jamaican film, Third World Cop. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi

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