Renowned reggae bassist, Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett has died
KINGSTON, Jamaica —Renowned reggae bassist, Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett has died.
His son, Aston Jr made the announcement via social media on Saturday stating that his father passed away following what he described as a “long medical battle.” The cause of his illness was not disclosed.
Aston Barrett was 77 years old.
“With the heaviest of hearts, we share the news of the passing of our beloved Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett after a long medical battle,” Barrett Jr wrote on his official Instagram page. “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.”
The legendary bassist played for reggae icons Bob Marley and the Wailers, Burning Spear and Augustus Pablo.
According to his son’s post, Barrett received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bass Player Magazine in 2012 and was selected as the number-one bassist by the staff of Bass Player Magazine, in their ranking of “20 legendary players who shaped the sound of electric bass” in 2020.
In 2021, he was honored with the Order of Distinction (Commander class) in the National Honours and Awards on Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.
