Wakarusa delivers the musical history of Sly & Robbie

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis, food and entertainment writer for The City Wire, has interviewed several of the bands expected to play at the Wakarusa music festival north of Ozark. He is also providing reviews of some of the bands to play Wakarusa. The festival is set to be held on Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, June 4-7.

review by Peter Lewis

Friday evening at Wakarusa, festival-goers will have a chance to see, perhaps, the most prolific recording artists of all-time, the rhythm duo of Lowell Dunbar and Robert Shakespeare.

Better known as Sly & Robbie, there are estimates that the duo have played or produced upwards of 200,000 tracks throughout their career beginning in the mid 1970s. 

Their mutual love of American soul helped bring the duo together. This love would also become a large influence on their uniquely propulsive sound. During their innovative career, Sly & Robbie have helped shape and reshape not only the face of Jamaican music, but popular music as well.

As their musical reputations grew, Sly and Robbie became a highly sought after commodity, both as musicians and producers. While they have performed with or produced a multitude of famous reggae stars like Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Toots Hibbert, and Bunny Wailer, their musical breadth is far from limited to the island.

Sly and Robbie musical credits feature such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, The Rolling Stones, Sting, and Simply Red. While Mr. Bacon might have his seven degrees, judging from this very tiny list, it would seem Sly & Robbie could link up with almost anyone in the music industry in less than two degrees.

It would seem that there will not be a more historic sound on display at Wakarusa. As musicians go, no one at the festival can match their tight proficiency. Festival-goers should expect a reggae tinged and rhythmic set of pulsing instrumentals.

Sly & Robbie will play 3 p.m., Friday on the Main Stage.

Peter can be reached at [email protected]