As half of "the Riddim Twins" with drummer , multi-Grammy winner played on and co-produced literally thousands of recordings by reggae, pop, and jazz artists ranging from and to and . Between 1975 and 1980, he and issued 20 albums as . In 1980, founded label and production house Taxi Productions, served as Compass Point Studios' house rhythm section, and released four commercially successful albums: Gamblers Choice (1980), Language Barrier (1985), (1987), and Silent Assassin (1989). During the '90s they delivered the global smash "Bam Bam" by , initiating the dancehall revival globally. The duo produced a range of artists including and in the early 21st century while continuing to release albums like 2006's Rhythm Double, 2014's Dubrising, and 2020's Red Hill Road.

Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare was born in East Kingston, Jamaica in 1953. He grew up in a music-loving home that served as a rehearsal space for local musicians. His brother Lloyd played in an R&B-cum-calypso group called the Emotions and they practiced at the house. 's first instrument, dictated by necessity, was the guitar — a stray one was always sitting around. A bit later he drifted over to the drums. Bassist began hanging out in 's yard — allegedly a popular place to procure marijuana. He'd already heard the older man play and had fallen in love with the bass, and insisted that teach him. agreed and became 's instructor and mentor. The young bassist entered a recording studio for the first time as a roadie for 's brother drummer . Eventually, he was allowed to hang around as musicians were working. showed up at 's many studio and live gigs (he was a member of the and at the time). listened as well as watched the bass player. Afterwards, he would ask to teach him the basslines he'd heard.

When joined , took over the bass chair in the . In 1972, the older man brought his charge to the recording session that netted ; played on "Concrete Jungle." By 1975, he was a very busy studio musician: That year he played on no less than 19 recordings, including dates by (the reggae classic and its dub companion, ), (The Torch of Freedom), (), (Dance in a Greenwich Farm), and Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus (Rastafari).

That year, met drummer who, with bassist , had formed as the house band at Channel One Studios a year earlier. replaced in 1976, and issued four albums: Revival Dub Roots Now, , Revolutionary Sounds, and Satta Dub Strictly Roots, that showcased their aggressive and musically progressive "rockers reggae" style, which replaced roots reggae's dominant "one drop" approach. Between 1976 and 1980, the group released 20 albums, including 1978's Pancho Alphonso collaboration Never Get to Zion, Guerilla Dub with , and their own Jonkanoo Dub. The duo also served in 's band and played on seven of his albums through 1983, including ( only), , and . In 1979 they produced 's , the latter's best-selling album.

In 1980, the duo formed Taxi Productions, housing a studio and a label, to abide their growing interest in recording technology. Gamblers Choice, their Taxi debut, showcased the pair's love of funk, disco, fusion, and pop as well as reggae, and found using electronic Syndrums as well as his acoustic kit. In addition, the pair served as rhythm section for and produced on their debut Showcase (which appeared on Taxi), , and 1981's Grammy-winning (the duo remained with the vocal trio through 1985); they also produced ' commercial breakthrough in 1981. They duo became Island boss 's house rhythm section at Nassau's Compass Point Studios. In 1982 produced 's eponymous set (and many subsequent dates) and issued The '60s, '70s + '80s = Taxi. Its songs were radical reworkings of '60s R&B, soul, and pop hits that influenced the first wave of ska and reggae musicians. The duo also produced 's solo album, Sly-Go-Ville, that charted in England and France.

Over the next couple of years, they released Taxi Connection (1983), and produced, played on, and released recordings by , , , , and dozens more. They also assisted on , , and .

In 1985 the duo teamed with bassist/producer and released Language Barrier for Island. The critically acclaimed set registered the chart single "Make Em Move" in England and won critical notice for its future dub cover of ' "Black Satin." That year they also worked with on . The following year the duo's issued The Sting, a steamy futurist dub outing recorded on a Fairlight, and Taxi Gang: Live in London.

With producing, issued in 1987. The six-song set was recorded in New York City with a wildly diverse cast that included , , , , and . The studio band covered the ' "Fire" and issued the charting single "Boops (Here to Go)." The set accomplished two things for and : placed on year-end critics' and fans' lists internationally for starters, and less visible but perhaps more importantly, it revealed how much 's playing evolved out of rockers reggae (without forsaking it) and moved over toward jazz-funk. He and were so focused on creating complex grooves for the album that would sometimes play basslines that adopted note for note as a rhythm. The duo toured hard and continued to play on and produce singles.

In 1989, released the -produced Silent Assassin, an attempt at a commercial rap album. Guests included , , Shah of Brooklyn, , and . It garnered positive reviews, and was regarded as an innovative collaboration melding rap, reggae, funk, and jazz. In 1991 they released The Many Moods of Sly & Robbie and in 1992, , the second volume of the Taxi comp The '60s, '70s + '80s = Taxi. The duo altered the course of Caribbean music — and rap, too — with their production of the ' single "Murder She Wrote"/"Bam Bam." The contrast between ' harsh toasting and ' sweet, soulful singing was a hit all over the Caribbean, and in New York, Chicago, London, and Paris. Some credited it as the first modern dancehall single while most claimed it as a revitalization of the dancehall style that had all but disappeared during the '80s. For , it was an adventurous time: began adding percussion instruments to his arsenal, primarily playing tablas, and sometimes left his bass behind for samples and keyboards on sessions.

The duo continued to innovate, producing dozens of singles for up-and-coming artists while continuing to support veterans like , , and (who went solo after leaving ). They also released in 1995. In 1997, they melded their production and funky musical approach with Latin music on The Sound of La Trenggae. The set offered hard-grooving, dubwise salsa and Caribbean sounds appended by polished production techniques. At 's suggestion, they covered 's "Watermelon Man," collaborated with pianist on readings of and tunes, and offered beat-wise, shuffling vocal reads of "Quando Quando" (feat. ) and "La Isla Bonita" (feat. ). These were followed by , a funky Latin jazz take on pop, jazz, and reggae tunes with a dozen guests including , , and . Finally, they issued the star-studded Friends. Its guests included , , , , and . It took home the Grammy award for Best Reggae Album the following year. In 1999, Strip to the Bone, a collaboration with DJ/producer , netted the hit single "Superthruster" thanks to its animated video. Further, it pushed the album onto the English and French charts.

Following their collaborations with jazz pianist on La Trenggae, they reteamed with him for on Telarc in 2000. The set offered their highly stylized versions of classic jazz-funk, soul-jazz, R&B, early reggae, and pop tunes. While it sold respectably, it is considered one of the most successful reggae/jazz collaborations. Various collabs and productions were released on several different labels over several years and in 2008, the duo joined Detroit-based keyboardist, composer, and longtime fan to inaugurate — a collaboration series for Strut — with their bubbling, slippery, glide across psychedelic funk, steamy dub, and R&B. They toured with artists ranging from the and to . In 2009, they worked alongside singer on the Movin' On album, that they co-produced with singer and associate Guillaume Bougard. The effort won many accolades and critical nominations as the year's best reggae album. They toured Japan and Europe with releasing Bitty McLean & Sly & Robbie: Live in Tokyo in 2010. In 2012, they produced and played on 's album GRIOT 2012, and planned the Jamaican Legends tour across Europe with and guitarist . Lastly, they issued the steamy, Afro-futurist Blackwood Dub. The following year saw them collaborate with on , on , and Griot on 13 with Khalifa. Sly & Robbie Present: No-Maddz appeared in 2014. In 2017, the duo issued three acclaimed, wildly experimental digital albums: Bad, Book of Dubelation, and Dubocalypse, and collaborated with Junior Natural on Militant.

The following year they reignited their working relationship with on his seminal Love Deluxe. (sans ) recorded the track "Epileptic Landscape" with Switzerland's 18th Parallel for the various-artists EP Magnetic Buzz Riddim. That year also saw the release of , the duo's collaboration with Norwegian jazz trumpeter that included his countryman, guitarist and Finnish electronicist (Sasu Ripatti). In 2019 , a collaboration between and , appeared followed by the digital offering Dub Serge, a collection of dubs re-recorded from their 1979 sessions with the composer. In November 2020, Red Hills Road, 's last duo album, appeared from Taxi. They collaborated with the on 2021's Remember Our Creator.

On December 8, 2021, died following complications from kidney surgery. In 2023, Tabou1 Records released Forward by . The set was created as a tribute to by the singer, label boss Bougard, and using the bassist's archived rhythms from the label's vaults, then building new tracks around them. ~ Thom Jurek

Robbie Shakespear

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