Two-time Grammy-winning reggae drummer Sly Dunbar, who inspired countless songs from Bob Marley to Bob Dylan and was one half of the influential reggae rhythm section Sly and Robbie, has died. He was 73 years old.

Dunbar’s wife, Thelma, announced the death to the Jamaica Gleaner.

Dunbar and the bass player Robbie Shakespeare — Sly and Robbie, also known as the Riddim Twins — played reggae classics by Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh and would attract attention far beyond Jamaica, from the likes of Grace Jones and the Rolling Stones.

Sly and Robbie played on three of Jones’ albums — Warm artificial leather, Night clubs and I live my life — as well as four albums by Serge Gainsbourg and three by Dylan, in 1983. Infidelsin 1985 Empire Burlesque and in 1988 Down at the Groove.

“Words cannot describe how heartbroken I am to hear that my friend and legend has passed away,” UB40 singer Ali Campbell posted on Facebook. “Modern beats simply wouldn’t be what they are without the influence of reggae and dancehall riddims that Sly single-handedly pioneered.”

Others who paid tribute online included Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones. Sly and Robbie played on the band’s 1983 album. Covertas well as Mick Jagger’s solo album from 1985. She’s the boss.

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Nominated for 13 Grammys

Dunbar played with the Revolutionaries, Jamaica’s Channel One studio house band, while also on tour, and played on Junior Murvin’s album Police and thievesMaxi Priest’s Easy to loveclassic instrumental by Dave and Ansell Collins Double barrel and Marley’s Punk Reggae Party.

Nominated 13 times for the Grammy, Dunbar won twice — when Black Uhuru’s Anthem won the first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording in 1985 and when Sly and Robbie Friends won the award for the best reggae album in 1999.

In 1980, Sly and Robbie co-founded Taxi Records, which nurtured artists such as Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Skip Marley, Beenie Man and Red Dragon.

“When you buy a reggae record, there’s a 90 percent chance that the drummer is Sly Dunbar,” said producer Brian Eno at the New Music Festival in New York in 1979. “You get the impression that Sly Dunbar is chained to a studio seat somewhere in Jamaica, but what actually happens is that his drum tracks are so interesting that they’re used over and over again.”

Outside of the genre, Dunbar has collaborated with a range of artists including Joe Cocker, No Doubt, Sinead O’Connor and Carly Simon.