Carlton Barrett

Carlton Barrett
Name	Carlton Barrett
Born	17 November 1950
Origin	Rocky Point, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae, Ska
Occupations	Drummer, Percussionist
Years active	1969–1987
Associated acts	Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Wailers Band, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer

Carlton Barrett (17 November 1950 – 17 April 1987) was a Jamaican drummer and percussionist best known for his work with Bob Marley and the Wailers and for shaping the sound of modern Reggae. His inventive use of the one drop, rockers, and steppers rhythms helped define recordings produced in Kingston, Jamaica during the 1970s and 1980s. He played on landmark albums and toured globally with artists central to the internationalization of Reggae.

Early life and background

Born in Rocky Point, Jamaica, Barrett was raised in rural St. Andrew Parish, Jamaica and later moved to the Trench Town community of Kingston, Jamaica, a neighborhood associated with artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. He came from a musical family that included his brother Aston "Family Man" Barrett, who played bass for several influential Jamaican ensembles including The Wailers Band and worked with producers such as Lee "Scratch" Perry and Coxsone Dodd. Early influences included local sound system culture exemplified by operators like Duke Reid and Prince Buster, and the city’s recording studios such as Studio One and Treasure Isle where many contemporary musicians recorded.

Career with The Wailers

Barrett rose to prominence after joining the rhythm section that backed Bob Marley when the group reformed as Bob Marley and the Wailers in the early 1970s. He and his brother forged the rhythm partnership that anchored classic albums recorded with producers including Chris Blackwell at Island Records and engineers at Tuff Gong Studios. Barrett played on seminal releases such as Catch a Fire, Burnin', Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, and Exodus, and appeared during major tours including performances at venues like Lyceum Theatre, London and festivals alongside artists such as Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder. His tenure with the band continued through the era of the acclaimed Uprising Tour and the live album Babylon by Bus.

Drumming style and influence

Barrett’s technique combined elements from traditional Ska and contemporary R&B grooves, emphasizing syncopated bass drum placement and offbeat cymbal patterns used in the one drop and rockers styles pioneered in Kingston, Jamaica studios. Drummers and percussionists in subsequent generations—ranging from session musicians in Nashville and London to reggae specialists in Toronto and Los Angeles—have cited his work on tracks like "No Woman, No Cry", "Get Up, Stand Up", and "One Love/People Get Ready" as foundational. His influence extended to producers and arrangers at labels such as Island Records and Dubwise-oriented engineers who adapted his grooves for dub mixes and remix culture associated with artists like King Tubby and Lee "Scratch" Perry.

Collaborations and session work

Beyond the Wailers’ core recordings, Barrett contributed to sessions with members of the broader Jamaican scene including Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer on their solo projects, and worked with studio musicians employed by producers like Coxsone Dodd and Lee "Scratch" Perry. He performed on live bills and recordings that featured crossover artists such as Paul Simon and Jimmy Cliff at benefit concerts and festivals. Barrett’s drumming appeared on numerous singles and album tracks tracked in Kingston, Jamaica studios and mixed in international hubs like London and New York City.

Personal life

Barrett maintained close familial and musical ties with his brother Aston Barrett and with other members of the Wailers’ extended ensemble. He lived primarily in the Kingston, Jamaica area while touring extensively abroad with Bob Marley and the Wailers, visiting countries across Europe, North America, and Africa. He was known among peers for his steady stage presence and for mentoring younger percussionists who later recorded at studios linked to producers such as Chris Blackwell and engineers associated with Tuff Gong.

Death and legacy

Barrett was murdered in 1987 in Kingston, Jamaica; the event drew attention from international media outlets and prompted memorials among reggae communities in locations including Kingston, London, and New York City. His recorded performances continue to be studied by drummers, musicologists, and producers interested in the development of Reggae and its global diffusion. The Barrett brothers’ body of work appears on numerous compilations, archival releases, and documentary films chronicling the history of Reggae and the life of Bob Marley, and museums and cultural institutions in Jamaica and abroad reference their contributions to 20th‑century popular music.

Category:Jamaican drummers Category:Reggae musicians Category:1950 births Category:1987 deaths