Bob Marley and the Wailers bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett has died at the age of 77.
The news was confirmed on Saturday by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Olivia Grange, who wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “…He passed away early this morning at the University of Miami Hospital in Florida, USA.”
Barrett was born in 1946 and grew up in Kingston, where he helped lay the foundations of reggae and dub. As a child, he listened to soul music on the radio and sang, before turning to bass.
He built his first bass guitar from scratch using plywood, curtain rods, and old ashtrays. In a 2007 interview with Bass Player magazine, he said: “When I play bass, I feel like I’m singing. I compose the melody line and feel like I’m singing baritone.”
Barrett played with his brother Carlton in groups such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Hippie Boys, and Lee “Scratch” Perry’s The Upsetters. He was also a mentor to many Jamaican musicians including Sly His Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare of the reggae production duo Sly & Robbie.
After joining the Wailers in the 1970s, Barrett became bandleader of Marley’s backing band and co-producer of the group’s albums. He remained a lifelong member of Marley, particularly contributing to their popular albums Burnin’ and Uprising.
But his accomplishments extended further. He continued to tour with later members of the Wailers, and in 2015 was voted the 25th greatest bassist of all time by NME readers. In 2021, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (Commander Grade) at the National Honors Awards for Jamaica’s 59th anniversary of independence.
In a 2007 feature on bassists, he said: “I’ve played before Bob, with Bob, and after Bob, and in the process I’ve created a whole new concept of bass playing. It’s just who I am. It’s my destiny.” ”
Mr. Grunge’s update also expressed his support for the family of a “pioneer of Jamaican music.” “In commemoration of Reggae Month 2024, we would like to express our deepest condolences to his wife, children, extended family, and members of the local and international reggae music fraternity.” Angels Aston “Family” Please welcome Man “Barrett” to Mount Zion. ”
In 2006, Barrett began a legal battle with Island Records for £60 million in unpaid royalties for his production and songwriting work on the album, but his campaign was unsuccessful. He retired from music activities in 2019.
News of Barrett’s death comes less than two weeks before the release of Bob Marley: One Love, a Marley biopic in which his son Aston Barrett Jr. plays Barrett.
