Aston Barrett, renowned as the bassist for the legendary reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, has passed away at the age of 77.
Known affectionately as “Family Man,” Barrett, born in 1946 and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, played a pivotal role in the development of reggae music.
His family confirmed his demise, citing a “long medical battle” without specifying details. A key figure in reggae’s growth, Barrett contributed to almost all the Wailers albums and collaborated with artists such as Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, and many others.
In a social media post on Saturday, Barrett’s son, Aston Barrett Jr, shared the announcement of his father’s passing.
“With the heaviest of hearts, we share the news of the passing of our beloved Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett after a long medical battle.”
Aston Barrett initially rose to prominence as part of the Upsetters, the supporting band for reggae trailblazer Lee “Scratch” Perry.
In 1974, he became a member of Bob Marley’s band.
His bass contributions played a pivotal role in numerous Wailers hits, including but not limited to “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Get Up Stand Up,” “Stir It Up,” “Jamming,” “No Woman, No Cry,” and “Could You Be Love.”
“The drum, it is the heartbeat, and the bass, it is the backbone,” Barrett once said. “If the bass is not right, the music is gonna have a bad back, so it would be crippled.”
In 1981, Bob Marley passed away at the age of 36 due to cancer. The Wailers went on to perform, switching up their lineup and using different vocalists to replace Marley.
Barrett told the BBC in 2013 that he had fathered 23 daughters and 18 sons. “I am the family man,” he said. “I’m gifted with 41 [children].”
