Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, who was the bassist of , has died aged 77.
Announcing his death, Barrett’s family said he had suffered a ‘long medical battle’ but gave no further details.
Taking to on Saturday, Barrett’s son Aston Barrett Jr said: ‘With the heaviest of hearts, we share the news of the passing of our beloved Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett after a long medical battle.
‘This morning, the world lost not just an iconic musician and the backbone of the Wailers but a remarkable human being whose legacy is as immense as his talent.
‘Our family is asking for privacy during this challenging time, as words cannot express our profound loss.’
Born in 1946, Barrett grew up in Jamaica’s capital of Kingston.
His first musical success came when he became a member of the Upsetters, genre pioneer Lee Perry’s backing band.
He joined in 1974, and went on to play in most of the Wailers albums, featuring in many of the band’s biggest hits including I Shot the Sheriff, Get Up Stand Up, Stir It Up, Jamming, No Woman, No Cry and Could You Be Loved.
Dubbed the rhythmic ‘Architect of Reggae’, Barrett also worked on classic albums by the likes of Burning Spear, Peter Tosh and countless more.
In 2021, Jamaica awarded Barrett an Order of Distinction for his role as the musical ‘backbone’ of the reggae genre.
‘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.’
Barrett got his ‘family man’ moniker from being a bandleader, and it was said to have been coined before he fathered 41 children.
In the touching tribute, Aston Barrett Jr went on to describe his father’s influence and character, as he wrote: ‘Aston’s music brought joy to millions, and his influence on reggae is beyond measure.
‘He was a man of few words, but his words carried wisdom, kindness, and love.
‘His bass lines were not just the foundation of the Wailers’ music but the heartbeat of a genre that has touched hearts around the globe.’
Bob Marley’s official social media wrote Saturday: ‘It is with tears in our hearts and eyes that we share the news from Aston Barrett Jr. that his father our beloved friend, musical partner, bredrin Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett has made the transition from the physical world.
‘Anytime we listen to the music pay close attention to the genius of Fams on the bass.
‘A pioneer, unique, trendsetter, revolutionary in the musical space and most of all as his name implies a true family man.’
