Shakespeare’s friend, manager and producer Guillaume Bougard confirmed the musician’s death in a statement to CNN on Thursday. Bougard said Shakespeare passed away in Miami on Wednesday due to complications following kidney and liver transplants a year ago.
“We kept praying for a miracle, but it was not enough,” Bougard said. “This is very tough.”
Shakespeare was one half of reggae and dub duo Sly and Robbie, which he formed with drummer Sly Dunbar.
Born Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare in East Kingston, Jamaica, in 1953, Shakespeare was a prolific bassist who worked with reggae greats including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Gregory Isaacs, Reuters reports.
He also played alongside some of the world’s greatest rock and pop stars, among them The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Grace Jones.
Shakespeare’s home country is mourning his passing.
She added: “Robbie’s loss will be felt by the industry at home and abroad. He will be sorely missed.”
Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to the musician.
This sentiment was echoed by Grange, who said the pair were “among Jamaica’s greatest musicians.”
Offering her “deepest condolences to those he leaves behind,” she added: “This fantastic team took bass playing and drumming to the highest level as they made music for themselves as a group, and for many other artistes locally and internationally.”
Sly and Robbie produced music for movie soundtracks, including “Poetic Justice.”
Shakespeare received 13 Grammy nominations, winning two awards — one in 1984 for best reggae recording for “Anthem” and again in 1998 for best reggae album for “Friends.”
Bougard added: “He is the most prolific bass player in history, having played bass on, and produced, more than 30,000 tracks for artists ranging from Bob Marley to Bob Dylan, Peter Tosh to Paul McCartney, Black Uhuru to Madonna among thousands of others.
“He was mentored early in his career by Aston Barrett, Bob Marley’s bassist, and quickly found his own signature — heavy, yet musical, thunderous yet sweet.”