Better late than never, but I still have to say a few words about the death of this groundbreaking music legend.
On February 3, 2024, Aston Francis Barrett, better known to some as Familyman or Fams for short, died after a “long battle” with the disease. The Wailers' legendary bassist died at the age of 77 in the University of Miami Hospital in Florida, the city where Bob Marley died in 1981.
Aston Barrett was born on November 22, 1946 in Kingston, Jamaica. The fourth of five children of Wilford Barrett, a blacksmith, and Viola (née Marshall), Aston grew up in a large tenement house on Beeston Street in central Kingston, where saxophonist Val Bennett also lived. Too poor to afford a real bass, Familyman built his first bass out of a curtain rod. In the mid-1960s he joined the club band The Hippy Boys and accompanied singer Max Romeo at various performances in Kingston. Producer Bunny "Stricker" Lee was so impressed with his basslines that he brought Barrett into the studio in 1968 to record Slim Smith's "Watch This Sound" - an adaptation of the Buffalo Springfield hit "For What It's Worth." During the time that Aston Barrett was part of Lee's house band, the Aggrovators, he also released self-produced works on the Fam's and Cobra labels. The singles “Distant Drums”, “Eastern Memphis” and “Cobra Style” demonstrate a distinctive approach to instrumental music and Dub-B-sides.
His nickname “Familyman” comes from the fact that Aston viewed his fellow musicians as family and always took a leading role in arranging their collective work. The name Familyman does not come from the fact that he had many children - he told the BBC in 23 that he had 18 daughters and 2013 sons.
At the end of 1969, the Barrett brothers Aston and Carly made it into the British Top Ten with Max Romeo's raunchy "Wet Dream" and the organ instrumental "The Liquidator". Following the success of the instrumental "Return of Django", they toured the UK with the Upsetters in November, despite not playing on the record themselves. As a member of the studio band The Upsetters, Barrett provided powerful and melodic basslines that can be heard on the recordings the Wailers made for producer Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1970-71. His younger brother Carlton “Carly” Barrett played drums. The self-taught artist with an innate flair for musical arrangements and an exceptional sense of timing played an integral role in the popularity and international spread of reggae as bassist and bandleader of Bob Marley and the Wailers. When the Wailers split from Lee "Scratch" Perry to form their own label, Tuff Gong, Bob Marley persuaded the Barrett brothers to leave the Upsetters. From now on, Aston and Carly formed the rhythm section, the backbone of the Wailers. The group signed with Island Records in 1972 and the success story began. When Fams became bandleader and musical arranger during the recording of "Natty Dread" in 1973, he and his bass were the driving force for Marley's famous hymns. He gave songs like “No Woman, No Cry” the necessary heaviness.
Although the group experienced many changes during the Island years, the Barrett brothers remained the constant, the stabilizing force in the band. Familyman's confident mastery of his instrument and his skillful onstage interplay formed the backbone of the band's electrifying performances, while Marley delivered his lyrics in a trance-like state.
Aston Barrett was also an integral and important part of what emerged in the mid-1970s Dubsubgenres, and he was also a mentor to younger musicians such as keyboardist Tyrone Downie and bassist Robbie Shakespeare.
In addition to his duties with Bob Marley and the Wailers, Barrett worked on Keith Hudson's "Pick A Dub", Yabby You's debut album "Conquering Lion", Peter Tosh's "Legalize It", Bunny Wailer's "Blackheart Man", Burning Spear's groundbreaking releases "Marcus Garvey", "Dry And Heavy", Social Living and Augustus Pablo's "East Of The River Nile " with. Due to the Wailers' tours, his session work became somewhat less. It would be beyond the scope to list all the albums on which Aston's legendary Fender bass can be heard everywhere.
After Bob Marley's death, Familyman continued to record with Burning Spear (z. B. Hail HIM) and worked closely with Rita Marley for a while. On the album “Juvenile Delinquent” (1981), which he produced himself, he played most of the instruments himself.
Aston and Carlton also played on Ivorian reggae star Alpha Blondy's fantastic 1986 album Jerusalem. However, the following year Carlton was assassinated.
Familyman toured regularly with the Wailers Band until the 90s - after which his appearances became less frequent. He most recently lived in Miami and was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in 2021.
Finally, I chose something less known – a live reggae Dub Session with the master bassist, innovator and creator of the typical Bob Marley sound. “Dub Obsession w/ Aston “Familyman” Barrett“ (Island King Records) is an improvised, unrehearsed, rare and classic Dub Session recorded live on St. John, US Virgin Islands. In 2004, during a brief break from his endless touring schedule, Familyman met the Wailers' former house mixer, Liston Bernie, who lives on St. John. They decided to share the island with a real one Dub pampering session. The island's reggae musicians couldn't wait to perform with this legendary musician and the audience was more than thrilled. The performance was unannounced, and as word spread around the city, fans from all walks of life flocked to the once-in-a-lifetime event.
The 9 tracks with a playing time of almost 75 minutes are definitely a collector's item. Simply because Fam's famous Fender bass, with which he created so many immortal basslines, has fallen silent forever!
7 replies to "Dub Obsession W/ Aston “Familyman” Barrett”
Rspect! The "god" of good basslines... absolutely unrivaled for me and he only very rarely, actually never, had a "weak" moment... the only one that comes to mind right now is the bassline of the band's version of the Redemption Song (the song But it was wisely not released as a band version at the time!).
Thank you Ras Vorbei for this homage to one of the greats of reggae.
And even though I thought I knew EVERYTHING about Familyman, I just have this Dub Obsession rediscovered... immerse yourself in the sound...
Rotten Philip,
Maybe this is the answer to why Aston's basslines are so unique:
“When I'm playing the bass, it's like I'm singing. “I compose a melodic line and see myself like I’m singing baritone,” Barrett once said.
I've put together something that I don't want to withhold from you:
Releases:
197 times
The Sound Of Macka Dub (Carlton Barrett & Family Man) [aka Macka Dub]
Familyman In Dub [197X]
Productions:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Burning Spear - HAIL HIM [1980]
Horace Andy & Winston Jarrett & Wailers – The Kingston Rock [1974]
Keith Hudson – Pick A Dub [1974]
Various Artists – Cobra Style [197X]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Appears on:
Cobra style
Eastern Memphis
Guided Missile
Work
Cobra Style [disco mix]
Well Pleased [disco mix]
DJ Spooky Presents Riddim Come Forward
Deep river
Dub Sessions
I'm Alright
Juvenile delinquent
Children Of The Ghetto – Juvenile Delinquency
Natural Woman – Strictly Woman
Drifting Love – Drifting Dub
Sea Of Love – Sea Of Dub
Now This Is What I & I Call Version
Ten Thousand Tons Of Dollar Bills
Too good to be forgotten
Deep river
Trojan Bob Marley & Friends Box Set
Ten Thousand Tons Of Dollar Bills
Installation plan
Deep river
Family Man Mood
Sly Mongoose
Herb Tree
Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set
Herb Tree
Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set
Head Dub
Albums engineered by Aston Barrett
Mixing engineer:
Bob Marley & Wailers - Confrontation [1980]
Bob Marley & Wailers – Exodus [1977]
Judy Mowatt – Black Woman [1980]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Recording engineer:
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Engineer:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Bob Marley & Wailers – Catch A Fire [1973]
As a musician
bass:
African Brothers – Want Some Freedom [1970-78]
African Brothers & King Tubby – The African Brothers Meets King Tubby In Dub [197X]
aggrovators – Dub Justice [1975-76]
Aggrovators – Kaya Dub [197X]
Aggrovators – Reggae Stones Dub [1976]
Aggrovators & King Tubby's – Dub Jackpot [1974-76]
Aggrovators & Revolutionaries – Rockers Almighty Dub [1979]
Al Campbell - Gee Baby [1977]
Al Campbell – Loving Moods Of Al Campbell [1978]
Alpha Blondy & Wailers – Jerusalem [1986]
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Augustus Pablo – Dubbing With The Don [197X]
Augustus Pablo – King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown [1972-75]
Augustus Pablo – Original Rockers [1972-75]
Augustus Pablo – Original Rockers Vol 2 [1989]
Augustus Pablo – The Definitive Augustus Pablo Box Set [197X-8X]
Augustus Pablo Meets Lee Perry And The Wailers Band – Rare Dubs [1970-71]
Augustus Pablo & Various Artists – Augustus Pablo Presents DJs From 70s to 80s [197X-8X]
Big Joe – African Princess [1978]
Bob Marley & Wailers - Uprising [1980]
Bunny Wailer – Black Heart Man [1976]
Burning Spear – Dry And Heavy [1977]
Burning Spear – Garvey's Ghost [1976]
Burning Spear - HAIL HIM [1980]
Burning Spear – Marcus Children [1978]
Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey [1975]
Burning Spear - The Fittest Of The Fittest [1983]
Carlton Barrett & Family Man – The Sound Of Macka Dub [197X]
Delano Tucker – Gather Israelites [197X]
Delroy Wilson – True Believer In Love [197X]
Dillinger – 24K Gold Ragnampiza [197X]
Dillinger – CB 200 [1976]
Don Carlos – Just A Passing Glance [1984]
Donald + Lulu With Wailers – Beautiful Garden [1982]
Errol Thompson & King Tubby – Holy War Dub [197X]
Glen Brown & King Tubby - Termination Dub [-1973 79]
Heptones – Unreleased Night Food & Rare Black Ark Sessions [1976-77]
Horace Andy & Winston Jarrett & Wailers – The Kingston Rock [1974]
I Roy – Truths And Rights [1975]
Impact All Stars - Randy's Dub [1975]
Iya Karna With Wailers – Incarnation [1986]
Jackie Mittoo – Show Case Volume 3 [1977]
Jacob Miller – Who Say Jah No Dread [1974-75]
Jimmy London – Hold On [1977]
Jimmy London – It Ain't Easy Living In The Ghetto [1980]
Jimmy London – The Jimmy London Collection [197X]
Johnny Clarke – Originally Mr Clarke [1980]
Johnny Clarke & Delroy Wilson & Doreen Shaffer – Lovers Rock Vol 2 [197X]
Justin Hinds – Travel With Love [1982-84]
Keith Hudson – Pick A Dub [1974]
Keith Hudson – Torch Of Freedom [1975]
Keith Poppin – Envious [1975]
Keith Poppin – Pop Inn [1977]
King Tubby – African Love Dub [-1974 79]
King Tubby – King Tubby's Lost Treasures [1976]
King Tubby & Errol Thompson – The Black Foundation In Dub [197X]
King Tubby & Friends – Rod Of Correction Showcase [197X]
Knowledge – Straight Outta Trenchtown [1975-80]
Larry Ethnic Meets The Wailers With Various Artiste – Larry Ethnic Meets The Wailers With Various Artiste [1975]
Larry Marshall & King Tubby – I Admire You In Dub [1975]
Lee Perry – Soundz From The Hotline [1976-79]
Lee Perry & Upsetters – High Plains Drifters [1968-73]
Linval Thompson – I Love Marijuana [1978]
Linval Thompson – Negrea Love Dub [1978]
Linval Thompson & Friends – Whip Them King Tubby [197X]
Little Roy – Tafari Earth Uprising [197X]
Lloyd Willis – Gits Plays Bob Marley's Greatest Hits [1977]
Max Romeo – Revelation Time [1975]
Negril – Negril [1975]
Nuroy & Uroy – The Originator [1976]
Pablo Moses – In The Future [1983]
Paragons – Now [1982]
Pat Kelly – Lonely Man [1978]
Peter Tosh – Equal Rights [1977]
Peter Tosh – Legalize It [1976]
Rita Marley - Who Feels It Knows It [1980]
Royals – Dubbing With The Royals [197X]
Royals – Pick Up The Pieces [1977]
Rupie Edwards – Irish Feelings [1975]
Santic + Friends – Harder Shade Of Black [1974]
Scientist – Scientific Dub [-1978 80]
Scratch And Company – Chapter 1, The Upsetters [1970-76]
Slim Smith – The Very Best Of [196X-7X]
Sly & Robbie Meet King Tubby – Reggae Rasta Dub [-1974 77]
Sons Of Jah – Bankrupt Morality [1978]
Sons Of Jah – Reggae Hit Showcase [1980]
Sons Of Jah – Universal Message [1982]
Sydney Rogers – Miracle Worker [1974]
Tennors – Moods [196X-7X]
Twinkle Brothers – All The Hits Vol 2 [1971-91]
Upsetters – Blackboard Jungle Dub [1973]
Various Artists – 17 North Parade [1972-75]
Various Artists – Aquarius Rock [197X]
Various Artists – Clocktower Presents Conquerors In Dub [197X]
Various Artists – Down Santic Way [1973-75]
Various Artists – Every Mouth Must Be Fed [1973-76]
Various Artists – Java Java Dub [1972]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Various Artists – Kingston All Stars Meet Downtown At King Tubbys [1972-75]
Various Artists – Reggae Jeggae [1968-69]
Various Artists – Rite Sound Reggae Story [1980]
Various Artists – Sound System Rockers [1969-75]
Various Artists – Treasure Isle In Dub [-1970 78]
Various Artists – Wonderman Years [1971-76]
Vivian Jackson – Ram A Dam [1976]
Yabby You – The Yabby You Collection [197X]
Yabby You & Brethren – Deeper Roots [1976-78]
Yabby You & King Tubby – King Tubby's Prophesy Of Dub [1976]
Yabby You & Various Artists – Jesus Dread [1972-77]
Organ:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Burning Spear – Farover [1982]
Sylford Walker – Lamb's Bread [1978]
Vivian Jackson – Ram A Dam [1976]
Yabby You – Conquering Lion [1977]
Yabby You & Brethren – Deeper Roots [1976-78]
Yabby You & King Tubby – King Tubby's Prophesy Of Dub [1976]
Yabby You & Various Artists – Jesus Dread [1972-77]
Rhythm Guitar:
Aggrovators & King Tubby's – Dub Jackpot [1974-76]
Aggrovators & Revolutionaries – Rockers Almighty Dub [1979]
Agrovators Meet Revolutionaries – Agrovators Meet Revolutionaries Part II [197X]
Bunny Wailer – Black Heart Man [1976]
Cornell Campbell – Dance In A Greenwich Farm [1975]
Delroy Wilson – For I And I [1975]
Johnny Clarke – Moving Out [1975]
Johnny Clarke – Put It On [1975]
Johnny Clarke – Rockers Time Now [1976]
Johnny Clarke – Sings In Fine Style [1975]
King Tubby – Dub From The Roots [1974]
Owen Gray – Forward On The Scene [1975]
Scientist – Scientific Dub [-1978 80]
Sons Of Jah – Universal Message [1982]
Tommy McCook & Aggrovators – Cookin [1975]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Lead guitar:
Sons Of Jah – Universal Message [1982]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
keyboards:
Bunny Wailer – Black Heart Man [1976]
Sons Of Jah – Universal Message [1982]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Guitars:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Bob Marley & Wailers - Uprising [1980]
King Tubby – The Roots Of Dub [1975]
Rita Marley - Who Feels It Knows It [1980]
Synthesizer:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Percussion:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Bob Marley & Wailers - Uprising [1980]
Burning Spear - HAIL HIM [1980]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Plan:
Aston Barrett – Familyman In Dub [197X]
Bob Marley & Wailers - Uprising [1980]
Larry Ethnic Meets The Wailers With Various Artiste – Larry Ethnic Meets The Wailers With Various Artiste [1975]
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Syndrome:
Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]
Melinoco:
Larry Ethnic Meets The Wailers With Various Artiste – Larry Ethnic Meets The Wailers With Various Artiste [1975]
Bass drum:
Burning Spear – Farover [1982]
Clavinet:
Burning Spear – Farover [1982]
These are actually only recordings from the mid-1980s that Familyman was involved in.
Many thanks for this fabulous review, Ras Vorbei. I would never have heard this beautiful album without your review. The compilation of Aston Barrett's musical work also shows that you always put your heart and soul into your work. Many thanks for that too!
A worthy obituary for the great Jamaican bassist
Aston “FamilyMan” Barrett!!!
For that alone you have to get an Order of Distinction RasVorbei! Even just listing part of his work is an unprecedented appreciation of his creativity. And as if that wasn't enough homage to Aston Barrett, you give us an album that I can't adequately describe in words. What a TREASURE!!! And they play something like that, without rehearsing, live and direct on a stage where everyone who was able to experience it can feel blessed.
The whole recording also sounds like really good mastering and underlines once again why I complain so often about bass lines that simply can't convey this feeling. Like so many people, I was influenced by the best reggae that has ever been made and I see it as “customary law”, so to speak.
to be provided with the best BiassLines of all time. Aston Barrett was and still is the measure of all things. Of course, I don't want to forget to pay homage to many of his colleagues as well. George “Fully” Fullwood is usually highlighted far too rarely by me. Then of course there is Robbie Shakespeare and Errol “Flabba” Holt. And of course I don't want to forget Lloyd Parks and even if I can't or don't want to name everyone, Lloyd Brevett has to be mentioned now too.
Otherwise, choose one or all of them. I personally love them all…. including ASWAD bassist Tony Gad! “Promise Land”!!
https://ineverknewtv.com/top-10-reggae-bass-players-of-all-time/
Yeah man! In Biass we trust!!! …………………… lemmi
Dear commentators, thank you very much, I am particularly pleased that I have hit the mark again with this album. The basslines on “Dub Obsession” are top notch in my opinion. Sure, Jamaica has produced many top bass players, but the Barrett brothers invented classic roots reggae. The sound without which I might never know about reggae and Dub would have been fascinated. But lemmi, you are right when you list some of the greats in your comment. Although Lloyd Brevett played a great classical double bass with the Skatalites, he contributed to Aston Barrett's interest in bass playing and became his great role model.
Although I "Dub "Obsession" for many years, I only now found it during a very lengthy search for my review in the "Marian Trench of the Internet". I found exactly the information that can be read in the review, some of which you can also hear from Liston Bernie's announcement. For me the album has a bit of a bootleg feel. But I particularly like recordings like this because they always show the genuine quality of a band. Since it is an “Official Bootleg”, I unfortunately cannot say how many oversdubs and post-processing was still done.
Moin
Unfortunately, it was added to Fam's recording list
or unknown, a rare one Dub baby
not mentioned. Certainly a complete list
of an artist's recordings is completely impossible.
So, it's the LP: The Wailers - Tribute To Carly Barrett
One shortly after Carlton Barrett's brutal murder in 1987
released nine tracks Dub Lp of the disc released in 1974 by
Horace Andy, Winston Jarrett & The Wailers – Earth Must Be Hell. Here is the information about it from Discogs: The Wailers – Tribute To Carly Barrett
Label: Atra – ATRALP1008
Format:
Vinyl, LP, album
Country: Germany
Released: 1987
Genre: Reggae
Style: Dub
A1 Let Jah Music Dub
A2 True Born Music
A3 Time Dub
A4 How Do You Think I Dub
B1 Lion Dub
B2 Dubbing In Hell
B3 Earth Must Be Hell
B4 Wake Up Dub
B5Country Dub
Phonographic Copyright? – Atra Music
Copyright © – BCMG
Published By – Atra Music Ltd.
Arranged By – A. Barrett*, B. Clarke*
Bass – Ashton Fam's Barrett*
Composed By – B. Clarke*, H. Andy* (tracks: B3), Winstone Jarrett Flames* (tracks: B4, B5)
Drums – Carly Barrett*
Electric Piano – John “Rabbit” Brunswick*
Organ – Tyrone Downie
Percussion – Stranger Cole
Piano – Tyrone Downie
Producers – A. Barrett*, Brent Clarke
Saxophones – Bobby Ellis
Trumpet – Dizzy*
Recorded in 1973 and remixed in 1987 by Mad Professor.
Dub versions of this release: Horace Andy, Winston Jarrett & The Wailers – Earth Must Be Hell.
Otherwise, a really big compliment for your meticulous search, recommendations and reviews Dub Reggae
Greetings to all Dub Fanatics
Mauty
Oh yes, Mauty, you're right. The album you mentioned is even here in the closet. Thanks for your tip!