Robbie Shakespeare wanted to be a baker

by

February 11, 2022

Photo

Robbie Shakespeare’s widow, Marian ‘Cat’ Shakespeare (left) and Thelma Dunbar, wife of Sly Dunbar, browse the programme during the funeral service for the late bassist on Monday.

Recoding artiste Tarrus Riley (right) greets Sly Dunbar at the funeral.

International superstar Shaggy comforts Marian Shakespeare.

Recording artiste Richie Stephens performs during the service.

Robbie Shakespeare

Marian 'Cat' Shakespeare, the widow of bassist extraordinaire Robbie Shakespeare, recalled that the man who she knew for 30 years said that if he wasn't a musician, he would have been a baker.

"Robbie would bake these great Christmas cakes and give back to his friends during Christmas time. He would bake the bread puddings, the dis, the dat, because his wish was that if he wasn't a musician, he would be a baker. That's what he loved and he was very, very good at it. He wanted to be a baker and open a bakery. He also loved to cook. He took up cooking in the latter part," Marian told THE WEEKEND STAR.

The Grammy Award-winning bass player, who was one-half of the acclaimed drum and bass duo, Sly and Robbie or 'the Riddim Twins', died on December 8, 2021, in Florida, after suffering complications from a surgery. He was laid to rest last Monday following a thanksgiving service at the Webster Memorial United Church in St Andrew. Among the attendees were his musical partner Sly Dunbar, Culture Minister Olivia Grange, entertainers Shaggy, Tarrus Riley and veteran producer Winston 'Niney' Holness.

A NEW CHAPTER

Marian said that she has processed her grief and is now preparing for what she calls a "new chapter" in her life.

"It's almost two months now, so that big blow has kind of worn off. It's just the memories and my mind might go back to where we were. I was the one who had to see him and see the changes and whatever. But he fought and he fought and the Lord was ready to give him rest and peace," she shared.

While noting that he was a person who "will never talk about his private life, his family life, nothin," Marian hailed Shakespeare as "a wonderful person, a great father, a great husband and a great friend".

Shakespeare was born on September 27, 1953. He was a member of the Aggrovators, the Revolutionaries and the Taxi Gang with Dunbar. They provided the rhythm section for several Grace Jones albums and also worked on projects with Mick Jagger, Yoko Ono, Sinead O'Connor and Bob Dylan.

In 2020, Shakespeare placed at number 17 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the greatest bassists of all time.