Reggae icon Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, Bob Marley’s bassist, dies
Aston Barrett, renowned as the bassist for the iconic reggae ensemble Bob Marley, and the Wailers, has passed away at the age of 77.
Known affectionately as “Family Man,” Barrett was born in 1946 and raised in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.
His family confirmed his passing, stating that Barrett had been engaged in a prolonged health struggle, though they did not provide specific details.
Barrett played a pivotal role in the evolution of reggae, contributing to the majority of the Wailers’ albums and collaborating with other notable artists such as Burning Spear and Peter Tosh.
In a social media tribute on Saturday, Barrett’s son, Aston Barrett Jr., expressed profound sorrow, announcing, “With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our cherished Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett after a lengthy health battle.”
Initially gaining recognition as a member of the Upsetters, the backing band for reggae innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry, Barrett later joined Bob Marley’s ensemble in 1974.
His bass lines became synonymous with numerous Wailers classics, including “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.”
Bob Marley died from cancer at the age of 36 in 1981. The Wailers continued to perform, with numerous line-up changes and various singers filling Marley’s shoes.
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].”