Renowned Jamaican drummer Lowell “Sly” Dunbar, known for his work with the iconic reggae duo Sly & Robbie, has passed away at the age of 73.

The news of his passing was confirmed by his wife, Thelma Dunbar, to the Jamaican newspaper, The Gleaner, on Monday.

Thelma recounted the morning of his passing, saying, “Around seven o’clock, I went to wake him and he didn’t respond. I called the doctor and received the unfortunate news.” She did not reveal the cause of his death.

Reflecting on the previous day, Thelma shared, “Yesterday was a good day for him. He enjoyed the company of friends and we had a great time together. He ate well, which isn’t always the case. Although I knew he was unwell, I didn’t realize the extent of his illness.”

Dunbar’s daughter, Natasha, also confirmed to TMZ that her father died at his home in Kingston, Jamaica. Like Thelma, she chose not to disclose the cause of his passing.

“As one half of Sly & Robbie, Sly helped shape the sound of reggae and Jamaican music for generations. His extraordinary talent, innovation, and lasting contributions will never be forgotten,” read a statement from the family, per TMZ. “Sly’s music, spirit, and legacy touched people around the world, and we are deeply grateful for the love and support during this difficult time.”

Dunbar began his music career at age 15 when he was in a band called The Yardbrooms. 

In 1972, he met bass guitarist Robbie Shakespeare and they formed the rhythm section and production group Sly and Robbie which shot them into stardom.

The duo played on reggae hits by Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, and Peter Tosh. They had their breakthrough on The Mighty Diamonds’ 1976 album “Right Time.”

Sly and Robbie also recorded and produced with Madonna, Mick Jagger, the Rollijng Stones, Yoko Ono, Jackson Browne, Sinead O’Connor, Carly Simon and No Doubt.

They released multiple albums of their own, as well, including 1985’s “Language Barrier,” 1987’s “Rhythm Killers” and 2006’s “Rhythm Doubles,” which was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.

In total, the pair were nominated for 13 Grammys and won twice, for Best Reggae Album for “Friends” in 1998 and Best Reggae Recording for “Anthem” in 1984.

Sly and Robbie remained an active group until Shakespeare’s death in 2021 at age 68.

Dunbar spoke about admiring his music partner the year before Shakespeare died.

“It was the whole body of the bass, the sound and the way it flowed against the drummer,” Dunbar told Rolling Stone in 2020. “At a certain part of a tune he’d play like three different lines, change the line on the bridge and the verses after that, and get four different lines.”