Performance · Other credits

Carlton Barrett

Kingston, Jamaica

Carlton Barrett is credited on 2,373 releases across 391 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1973–2026 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.

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2,373

Pressings credited

391

Albums

6

Decades active

1,096

In collections

Biography

Carlton Barrett (17 December 1950 – 17 April 1987) was a Jamaican musician best known for being the long-time drummer for Bob Marley & the Wailers. Recognized for his innovative style, which featured a highly syncopated, broken triplet pattern on the hi-hat, and for his dazzling drum introductions, Barrett's prolific recordings with Bob Marley have been internationally celebrated. He is credited with popularising the one drop rhythm. Carlton Barrett was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1950, the second son of Wilfred and Violet Barrett. As a teenager, he built his first set of drums out of empty paint cans he found on the street. Along with his contemporaries, drummers Sly Dunbar, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Style Scott and Carlton "Santa" Davis, Barrett was heavily influenced by Lloyd Knibb of the Skatalites. In the 1960s, Barrett began performing with his brother Aston "Family Man" Barrett, under the names The Soul Mates, The Rhythm Force and eventually The Hippy Boys, a line-up that featured Max Romeo on vocals, Leroy Brown, Delano Stewart, Glen Adams and Alva Lewis. In 1969, the brothers joined the Wailers (later Known as Bob Marley and the Wailers). During his years with Marley, Barrett continued to record for many of Jamaica's best known artists and is featured on solo albums by Bunny Wailer (Blackheart Man), Augustus Pablo (King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown) and Peter Tosh (Legalize It and Equal Rights) as well as many others.

Bio from Wikipedia

Credited work

2,373 releases · 391 albums · active 1973–2026

  • Performance · 3,508
  • Other credits · 29
  • Production · 6

Studios: Harry J's Recording Studio · Randy's Studio · Tuff Gong Recording Studio · Dynamic Sounds Studios

Discography

Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Frequent collaborators

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