Aston Barrett

The role of the bass guitar in reggae was established by bassist, producer, arranger, and engineer Aston "Family Man" Barrett. With his brother, Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, on drums, Barrett provided the essential rhythmic foundation for the recordings and performances by <a href="spotify:artist:2QsynagSdAqZj3U9HgDzjD">Bob Marley</a> from 1969 until <a href="spotify:artist:2QsynagSdAqZj3U9HgDzjD">Marley</a>'s death in 1981. The undistorted but melodic baritone tones of Barrett's bass have also been heard on recordings by artists ranging from <a href="spotify:artist:41ekW4MXG59xJMXR8dX1OG">Alpha Blondy</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6qaKS0nzGP4hfjl4aFZmEU">Burning Spear</a> to late pop singer <a href="spotify:artist:7EK1bQADBoqbYXnT4Cqv9w">John Denver</a>.

Barrett launched his career in the Kingston nightclubs, playing guitar in a group, <a href="spotify:artist:579Ncba3u16DyUSrvxctnx">the Hippy Boys</a>, that he shared with his brother. In the late '60s, the Barrett brothers recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Lee "Scratch" Perry</a> as <a href="spotify:artist:12CNljuN6DW9e5x61FS03b">the Upsetters</a>. The high point of the group came in 1969 when their instrumental single, "Return of Django," became an international hit. The same year, the brothers recorded several singles by <a href="spotify:artist:6uSKeCyQEhvPC2NODgiqFE">the Wailers</a> including "Duppy Conqueror," "Soul Rebel," and "Small Axe." They continued to collaborate with <a href="spotify:artist:6uSKeCyQEhvPC2NODgiqFE">the Wailers</a>, remaining with <a href="spotify:artist:2QsynagSdAqZj3U9HgDzjD">Marley</a> after the departure of <a href="spotify:artist:0oea1hwGMfUxZbLxJc1XUN">Peter Tosh</a> and Bunny Livingston. In addition to co-writing the tune "Rebel Music (3 O'clock Roadblock)," Barrett co-produced 11 albums with <a href="spotify:artist:2QsynagSdAqZj3U9HgDzjD">Marley</a>. He also became one of the first to incorporate a drum machine on a reggae tune when he and <a href="spotify:artist:6uSKeCyQEhvPC2NODgiqFE">the Wailers</a> recorded "No Woman No Cry," "So Jah Seh," and "Johnny Was." On February 26, 1997, Barrett performed with <a href="spotify:artist:2yrxgdT8hFpQtD0W0rgqSG">Al Anderson</a>, the <a href="spotify:artist:2QsynagSdAqZj3U9HgDzjD">Marley</a> family, and <a href="spotify:artist:2WKdxPFRD7IqZvlIAvhMgY">the Fugees</a> at the internationally televised Grammy Award ceremonies at Madison Square Garden.

In 1999, PGD/Heartbeat released two albums of material spanning Barrett's musical career -- Cobra Style: Lost Productions from the Wailers Musical Director and an instrumental dub version, Family Man in Dub. Tracks included one of the earliest tunes that Barrett recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:6uSKeCyQEhvPC2NODgiqFE">the Wailers</a>, "Distant Drums," an instrumental interpretation of <a href="spotify:artist:2vKNIZgOzsdLs8W40OZ4X8">Yabba You</a>'s "Love Thy Neighbor." Aston Barrett died on February 3, 2024, in Miami, Florida; he was 77. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi