‘One Sly Dunbar!’ - Producer General Lee remembers the legendary drummer

High Power Music producer, General Lee, is in a state of absolute shock at the passing early Monday morning of 73-year-old iconic drummer, Lowell Fillmore 'Sly' Dunbar, a man he refers to as his "big bredda".

Sly reportedly died at his home. General Lee said they were on the phone for "a long time on Sunday" and spoke up to nearly midnight, UK time. And the parting words are ones which he will never forget.

"Mi get a group call with Sly and another person 'bout 7 p.m. England time and then Sly call mi 'bout 9 p.m and him call mi back again after that. But him did sound low. And him a talk everything from things that happen when him was a boy and come up to how him start out inna di business. Him talk nuff tings," General Lee told THE STAR.

"When we a go hang up, Baya [Sly] seh 'One General inna di dance. Mi boss! Mi love you yuh nuh.' And me seh, 'Mi love yuh too. One Sly Dunbar ... couldn't be two.' So, can you imagine how mi feel when Burbur [Sly engineer] call me this afternoon (Monday) and seh Sly dead? The great Sly Dunbar ... Baya ... no sah!" said General Lee, who is in charge of the UK marketing and promotion of Sly and the late bassist Robbie Shakespeare's legendary Taxi Label.

General Lee has an encyclopaedia full of stories about him and the dynamic duo, Sly and Robbie, especially Sly. He spoke of how "protective Robbie was of Sly" and the spirituality that guided their iconic drum and bass rhythm section.

"Me and Sly talk 325 out of the 365 days every year ... and that is no idle boast. There's nothing that Sly don't talk to mi 'bout. He even told me on Sunday, 'Thank you for keeping Taxi label going. Yuh have the full Taxi endorsement.' Mi know seh Thelma [wife] and Shelly [daughter] and mash up now. Baya one daughter ... Shelly a him life," General Lee reflected.

He shared that Sunday's conversation ranged from reminiscing about Robbie, Sly's early days in the business and his gratitude to Lloyd Parks.

"Sly did decide when him was about 14 that him never want to go back to school. And Lloyd Parks go to him mother and said 'Your son is very talented and I want you to give me permission to look out for him.' Another person who was there that time was Ansel Collins. Sly's first tune was for Ansel ... Double Barrel ... and when him finish play, Sly seh 'Is a million seller this.' People look pon him like 'A who and dis lickle boy yah?' But him was right. The song top the British charts and sell a million copies," General Lee said.

The producer, who actually started out as a deejay, was planning to do some studio work with Sly in February. The tracks have already been laid for his recordings, which have long been in the making.

"From before Robbie pass off he did his part and Sly told me on Sunday to come Jamaica in February when he will be back in the studio. Him seh 'Come next month.' And see ... now mi really haffi come next month. And now mi haffi go do the album and honour Sly and Robbie belief in me."