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Aston Barrett continued to perform with The Wailers into the 2010s
Aston Barrett, bassist for legendary reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, has died at the age of 77.
Known as “The Family Man,” he was born in 1946 and grew up in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.
In announcing her death, her family said Barrett had been suffering from a “long illness” but did not provide further details.
He was a key figure in the growth of reggae. He played on nearly every Wailers album, as well as Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, and many other artists.
Barrett’s son, Aston Barrett Jr., wrote in a social media post on Saturday: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett after a long illness. I’ll let you know,” he said.
Aston Barrett first rose to fame as a member of reggae pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry’s backing band, the Upsetters.
Joined Bob Marley’s band in 1974.
His bass work includes “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Get Up Stand Up,” “Stair It Up,” “Jamming,” “No Woman,” “No Cry,” It has been a key feature of many of the Wailers’ hits, such as “Kuld You Be Love.”
“Drums, it’s the heartbeat, bass, it’s the spine,” Barrett once said. “If the bass isn’t right, the music will be off and dysfunctional.”
Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36. The Wailers continued to perform, with many lineup changes and different singers filling in for Marley.
Mr Barrett told the BBC in 2013 that he was now the father of 23 daughters and 18 sons. “I’m a family-oriented person,” he said. “I have 41 talents. [children]. ”
