The Wailers

(Born: Dec. 17, 1950, Died: April 17, 1987)

On Good Friday  Carlton Barrett was brutally murdered as he opened the gate to his home.   Here we remember and pay tribute to one of the greatest drummers to emerge from the island of Jamaica.

Carlton “Carly” Barrett was the originator of the one drop rhythm, a percussive drumming style. An essential member of the Wailers since 1969, Carly co-wrote “Talkin’ Blues” and performed on every  Wailer album since. With  Carly’s beats and his brother Aston’s bass, the Wailer rhythm section planted the seeds of today’s international reggae. The Barrett brothers came to prominence with their band the Hippy Boys. They began working with Lee “Scratch” Perry, and recorded an international hit, “Return of Django,” under the name the Upsetters.

The brothers teamed up with the Wailers in 1969-70 for several singles: “My Cup (Runneth Over),” Duppy Conqueror,” Soul Rebel,” and Small Axe.” These songs became part of a double LP set that Perry released: Soul Rebels and Soul Revolution, and formed the early foundation of the one drop sound. ~Text Copyright 1997, Island Trading Company Inc.