Aston Family Man Barrett Memorial

Aston was a pivotal foundation artist of the entire Reggae genre.

Have a great new adventure Mr Barrett!

Influential “Architect of Reggae” played on near-entirety of Wailers’ catalog in addition to classic albums by Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, and countless more.

Aston Barrett, the Jamaican bassist known as “Family Man” who served as the rhythmic architect for reggae legends like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Burning Spear, and Augustus Pablo, has died at the age of 77.

Barrett’s death was announced on social media Saturday by his son Aston Barrett Jr. “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. “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.”