The Incredible Life & Times of Aston Barrett | Bob Marley's Right Hand Man

[@vadermasktruth]

If these guys truly knew how much impact their music had on the human lifeforce they would be amazed. So many times just spinning that record gave the hopeless, hope. Enough to put down the gun or the heroin needle or the bottle of sleeping pills, the impetus to live another day rather then check out due to despair. Our Lifeforce -the soul, doesn't have a color or a race. There isn't an African soul or a European soul, only a human soul.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

yes, reggae is a spiritual music. Nice comment!

[@tahesi7232]

I Followed you until you got to soul. I'm convinced some ppl has no soul. They just plain cold like the weather they came from.

[@ashleymorris90]

Well said ❤

[@ikongchin3088]

NO to the human soul , NO to mankind JAH made MAN . NOT HUMAN NOT MANKIND NO H. I. M. MADE MAN. NOT HU MAN( LIKE UNTO MAN)

[@vadermasktruth]

@@tahesi7232 I hear you. I watch these demonic war mongers all over the world and I wonder how they sleep at night. While I do think every human is valued & has a soul, some gave their soul to the devil. The people & nations that starve children, bomb them, lie about viruses, lie about the cure, falsely accuse good people, and exalt evil people are just plain cold. They have a soul but willingly gave or sold it to the devil, the old serpent.

[@JustAThought155]

Let me be honest, without “Family Man” and his brother Carlton, I honestly don’t think Reggae music would have spread. Those two men put rhythms on those pioneer tracts that people are STILL trying to emulate, nearly fifty years later! Now let me try to watch this video.

[@jhonnygonzalez384]

Indeed!!!

[@donbayardkonan2356]

BOB MARLEY WON'T BE BOB MARLEY THAT IS WHY HE NAMED THE BAND " BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS". THE GROOVE OF THE BASS MADE BOB MARLEY SONGS

[@SuperheroJunior]

​@@donbayardkonan2356 Carlton Barrett was the greatest drummer 🥁 of all time.

[@ustheserfs]

understanding family man and carlie derived from them, listen to upsetters during the black ark era...scratch didn't surround himself with novices or mediocrity. wailers were fine ambassadors of the genre but the upsetters are one of the most immaculate outfits, genre nonwithstanding. croocial

[@dubsurgeon1742]

if it wasn't them it would have been someone else- market forces dictate consummate exploitation ina capitalist environment.

[@agro-valleyfarm7217]

Aston "Family Man" Barrett is a legend like Bob, Peter and Bunny who will never be forgotten because his infectious melodious bass playing made Bob Marley muzik a success.

[@eriqeasy9273]

this is a FACT,,, and I second that emotion

[@WhattEvery]

My favorite Reggae bassist of all time. RIP, Family Man! ❤💛💚

[@Emondotcalm]

@WhattEvery, My all time favorite bass player period!! Him and his brother pretty much reinvented the wheel as far as bass and drums go!

[@zn12914]

been listening to wailers all week, REST IN PEACE TO THIS LEGEND!

[@dennisolof6803]

I'm not sure Bob Marley would have been too famous if he hadn't met the Barret brothers. Thanks to the Barrett brothers, the wailers' reggae had a different and special sound. Rest in peace dear Aston.

[@isurvive8251]

W/out taking away from the Amazing Barrett bro.'s contributions, the ENTIRE Wailers band were Each & Together GREAT MUSICIANS. U can hear their Evolution & Revolution in the Progression of their studio albums & Especially(!) in the LIVE albums & recordings. Saw & Heard them Live 2x (to my Foriver regret just missed the beginning in NYC of the last unfinished tour) : INCREDIBLE !!! - All those years of playing together, hard work, touring, & innate Talent & Musicianship ! [Anyone else out there remember the SURVIVAL Tour show at the Apollo ? ... ] Cd never believe they wd not Carry On after Bob's Passing On , because of the Sound, the Talent, the Spirit & Soul Force ! Thanks & Praises to ALL , Yr GIFTS Live for Iver 🙏🏾🎵☝🏾🎶💜

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Blessings on Aston Barrett...one of my favourite bass players.

[@oussamamarouf2923]

The Barrett Brothers were The Sound of Reggae Music

[@Johnmoodie-rc5ny]

Aston was also a motor cycle mechanic and sound engineer

[@brianstones6234]

Bass Culture never dies!!!! RIP King Fam!!!!!

[@christopherseeley5760]

The undisputable father of reggae bass. MUCH LOVE!!!MUCH RESPECT!!!!

[@MrSevere51]

Rest in Power to Aston "Family Man" Barrett, best riddim bassist of reggae music. PEACE.❤❤❤💛💛💛💚💚💚!

[@rayburnefitzpatrick7575]

Aston Family Man, and his brother Carlton, were the very foundation of Bob Marley’s music and success.

[@Trintana]

Nuff respect Aston 'Family Man' Barrett! For me, he would always be the most amazing and unique bassist I've heard. I love this man! RIP!

[@robertmathurin739]

Blessed Love,, Rastafari,,,Rest in Paradise,, Family Man,,,🇱🇨👊🏽🇯🇲❤️

[@BambuSouljaBlessUP]

Wow we have same birthday ! Rip Family Man 🙏🏼❤️

[@rolandpritchard1731]

Jah god bliss the man that has help push reggae forword and has left us a great gift that will live on for all time.

[@raymondjohn3798]

R.I.P Uncle Aston Barrett,I always feel his great Job, I wished to meet him one day,but now is gone 😢, following from Swaziland 🇸🇿,In Southern Africa.

[@andytaylor6781]

Don't matter how much i saw Family ,it was never enough❤❤❤❤R.I.P.

[@edredswilliams1421]

R.I.P Mr Family Man Barrett the greatest underrated Bass player in the world who was robbed of his royalties. He was the Backbone of the Wailers.He was also a brilliant session Bassist for many musicians and singers.

[@donbayardkonan2356]

Rita Marley and ger children stole the WAILERS LOYALTIES

[@Stechamppn]

I got to see familymans wailers ..about 13 years ago...was absolutely blown away....they had 3 different singers ..all was good ..band was flawless....could only image how good it would have been with bob there..

[@rhinoyosemiteroy1814]

Earl wire Lindo and family. Man came by the dirty acre studios and jammed with night shift in San Diego, California in the 80s extremely generous, wonderful people what a blessing

[@amigazo3972]

Beautiful video and tribute to this giant of bass and reggae music.

[@pierre4819]

So wild, because, lastnite, I had an amazing dream where I was able to tell Carlton&Aston that they each were the greatest players of their chosen paths.... I got to say "Aston, you're the BEST bass guitarist EVER...." AND I got the opportunity to say "Carlton, you're the BEST drummer of all time..." And they were each very humble and said I was crazy.... However, I remained steadfast in my praise. #GreatDream #BlessingsANDRespect to everyone here..... Thankyou for this piece.....

[@ragjamrock]

There is no denying the massive contribution of Aston Barrett to the success of the Wailers and reggae music in general. I don't think he and his brother got the recognition they deserved. As Musical Youth said " Mi seh listen to di drummer mi seh listen to di bass" referring to the foundation of reggae music. 😢🎶🇯🇲

[@ByronMathews-sf9gw]

Yeah Rita and the Marley family should have given him the money that he deserved a Damm shame

[@normanbrown9225]

FAMILY MAN Created A VIBE OF THE WAILERS BECOMING A FAMILY.❤

[@rtee4086]

The legendary Aston '' Family man '' Barrett was without any doubt, Thee very best Bass Guitar player Coming out of Jamaica, And that's saying something, because Jamaica produce many great Bass Players, Robbie Shakespeare his student, was one of many, In my judgement Aston '' family man '' Barrett was among the the top ten best, in the entire world, he was the Usain Bolt of the Bass Guitar, May he rest in peace, his works will live forever and ever.

[@dawdasanneh4177]

Best Bassline ever is the Stir it up . What a genius 👏 🙌 RIP Family

[@tramp2827]

Without a doubt, the greatest bass player Jamaica ever had. Bar none. And we have had a lot of good ones.

[@vadermasktruth]

R.I.P. Fams from Detroit. God rest your soul and may God bless your family. Jah Rastafari.

[@atshabal]

Whene ever a wailler 's member dies it a part of me who die Familly man name's wil always been attached to Bob's music that makes him a legend.

[@GerardHope-b7i]

❤ The Best Reggae Music Teacher of the greatest music jonra

[@Troy-g3q]

Watching the wailers. You saw Aston and Carly jamming together keeping the heart beat going . Sadly they're all passed on . But you see those old clips . And their they are jamming. So here's to Aston and all of the wailers . JAH. RASTAFARI. Forever.

[@GerardMeade]

Fams is definitely the best bassist the world has ever seen!

[@anthonyhutchinson77]

I have only recently learned how deep Family Man's contribution has been. Really sorry for the way things turned out for these pioneers. They all seem to have met sad ends, despite their marvelous contributions.

[@eduardalsina5910]

Thank you Aston Barrett your work to make a world better will live forever. Rest in glory and peace in holy mount ZION .. Rastafari live ... forever ONE LOVE !!

[@watsonunlimitedmusic]

Top 3 bassists of all time, any genre. 'I Shot The Sheriff' has 4 full beats of rest right in the middle that go completely over the bar line. That's everything you're not supposed to do.. and it's one of the funkiest bass lines ever recorded.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

A remarkable man of tremendous humility. Uncredited composer of our favorite music. held together heroically with jr marvin. still aTher Wailers

[@paulbillerey1594]

RIR Aston family man Barrett. From South London.

[@3340steve]

Fantastic player and composer ,thank you for sharing this

[@anthonychukwuka8839]

Familyman! Rest In Perfect Peace

[@africanchild6130]

Rita Marley frustrated the life of this man after all he did to the success of her husband. What a world. RIP legend and icon

[@agro-valleyfarm7217]

She was all about the money; don't have no hue-manity

[@zurimoore2545]

Rest in power Aston barett familyman bass guitar player of bob marley and the wailers

[@ReggWashBass]

*RESPECT*

[@tyricedixon-ss7yn]

BLESSINGS To You From ChARM City BALTIMORE Md ❤❤❤ 3TTT

[@tb22k]

Thank you the clip ❤😊

[@AndreSantos-ki1dk]

My favorite bass Aston family man reggae music forever

[@fredkaagman1150]

Ere wie ere toekomt 🫶🏻 for the barrett brothers , rust in vrede ❤ . Greetings from the Netherlands ✌🏻

[@fredericocr1]

A genius with an increadable career on his own, with a gigantic legacy

[@tankisommasa8064]

Bob Marley and Barett family ❤was serious with reggae music 🎹🎸🎤🇿🇦

[@kamachiekaimachiande685]

May his giant gentle soul rest in perfect peace in the kingdom of Jah Almighty. He was talented musical genius and he will always be remembered in the annals of history together with greats like Bob Marley.

[@laurieharper1526]

Just a wonderful player. He combined delicacy of touch and harmonic inventiveness with absolute rock solid timing. Never knew until watching this that he and I share a birthday (I'm 7 years younger). RIP Mr Barrett and thank you.

[@RElse-fu2or]

Very enlightening and extremely well presented.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

thanks for this tribute!

[@RH421939]

I saw him on stage with the wailers in 2004 or 05 when the wailers opened for 311 . Was cool to see family man and Keith sterling on stage

[@anthonyhutchinson77]

RAS... thank you so much for your research and presentations... you have taught me much for a culture I love but only view from the periphery. You are not Jamaican, yet you have more knowledge of our music culture than I do. My connection is to the sounds I grew up with, not the knowledge of how it happened.

[@Izziharassedbynycooficials]

Rest in power Daddy Fams.

[@BassieBassieB]

Rest in Peace & Power Fams! Your basslines are eternal!

[@mamoudiawara9378]

Legend Aston family man 🙏 rip😊

[@cleanslate-x3u]

Beautiful review

[@thomassciaroni6942]

Jah Blessing It!!

[@REALHIPHOPLOVE24]

*Great video learned a lot. RIP 🇯🇲 Legends.*

[@markbryant8321]

So true drummer and bass like bros we stick together .like glue

[@royoroyemievba1618]

The spirit goes back to GOD who gave it and the body goes back to the dust from whence it is taken. "Family Man" Aston Barrett your spirit has merged with JAH the GIVER OF LIVE. rest well.❤❤

[@dee24874]

Massive loss. Great man and a true legend. RIE. 😢🙏🏾🕊

[@futuremetz1]

RIP FAMS!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@Guitargate]

Man, thanks so much for this.

[@caseyhansen4567]

Wow what a great tribute to family man.i was fortunate to spend time with stranger cole .his son Squidly.was drumming for Ziggy Marley at the time.back stage pass and talked to Ziggy.i felt i was surrounded by reggae royalty

[@B00MBATS]

Fantastic video, thank you for posting.

[@Marianne-c8n]

❤Merci infiniment ❤

[@mysticman9331]

Wonderful tribute. Thanks brethren.

[@agro-valleyfarm7217]

Agreed

[@almateenyazid]

Foundation!

[@annalishagoring]

Thank you for your interesting content I always enjoy it. One love

[@ReggaeAppreciationSociety]

Blessings ❤️💛💚 I'm glad you like the videos. Thanks for watching

[@mukwempahambala1792]

So Nice. Lovely piece of history

[@royanwebster5610]

Thanks for this information, just like how ashton son played him in one love one of bob Marley son should have played him.

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

Such a beautiful tribute to an amazing musician with a legacy that’s massive! Only thing I caught was at 11:20 it should be February, not December. I love your channel. I’ve been a reggae fan since the late 80s and there’s always so much yet to learn about this genre. The warmth and wisdom you bring is immeasurable. Thank you!

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

Damn, you’re right. 😂

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

@@AssNutz Don't worry, be happy.

[@stevensprung-wo3pk]

FAMS!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kofiofosu9051]

Family Man ever faithful, ever sure!

[@leifmanson7599]

I knew that the Barrett brothers played with more than a few other bands. They were part of the whole Kingston scene. I never knew that they got their start with Max Romeo. I'm going to look up the old Hippy Boys stuff now. I only knew of the Upsetters.

[@MaliV.Williams]

Indeed! Waiting for Someone to speak on Stepper Bennet!!

[@williamagyekumwiafe5565]

Legend Aston ...earthstrong

[@jorgemojica611]

Rest in power Fams !!!!👍🏽

[@JohnSmith-us9no]

Hippy Boys!🔥

[@loveheals6184]

I regret to say I took him (& the other instrumental magicians) for granted. I knew there were musical sounds and riffs that intensified my transcendent experiences, but I couldn't explain it well. I also didnt know the Barrett brothers wrote, "Who The Cap Fit", which is one of my favorite songs. Gratitude for his work❤💛💚🖤

[@westyraviz]

It’s truly tricky. A lot of Bob’s 1970s musical output were collaborative efforts. Did Aston and Carlton compose the music and Bob write the lyrics? And then there is the matter of Bob crediting his friends and family members for songs he’d actually written-to evade prior contractual obligations. At the end of the day, Aston and Carlton Barrett were responsible for that 1970s Bob Marley & The Wailers sound that helped propel Bob’s music to great heights and spread it to the farthest reaches of the globe.

[@loveheals6184]

@@westyraviz I concur. I wasn't initially cognizant of that. However, given the financial implications as well as creative attribution it matters. I was dismayed to learn that he and other Wailers have been disenfranchised by both the Industry at large and the Marley family in particular. It's entirely the opposite of the vibe among them as family and is antithetical to the Rasta principle of I&I where there is oneness, I-nity, etc. ❤💛💚🖤

[@westyraviz]

@@loveheals6184 You hit the nail on the head. The Barrett brothers and the other Wailers should have been able to reap what they sowed alongside Bob. I believe that Rita Marley was manipulated by record company executives and lawyers into taking decisions that primarily benefited the Marley clan and the executives & lawyers. It would also appear that there was an element of blind trust by many of the Wailers in the years immediately after Bob’s passing. As for Aston Barrett himself, the legend wasn’t at all well read, so he was susceptible to manipulation. It’s a major league disgrace what transpired. Imagine being Aston Barrett all those years watching others enjoy the fruits of his labor. Now everyone heaps accolades on him now that he’s passed, but very few fought for him while he was living. I remember when Bob Marley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Bob was inducted solo and not as Bob Marley & The Wailers. Bob was never a solo artist. I don’t know why The Rock & Roll Hall of Shame did that. Aston was there that day supporting the family. It was ridiculous to behold, especially considering the role Aston Barrett played. At the end of the day, he was blessed in his own way. We’ll keep his memory alive.

[@loveheals6184]

@@westyraviz from the outset I must admit that I have a bias in favor of Mama Rita/Nana Afua Adobea partly because she seems a convenient scapegoat for everyone's ire. I think part of the wealth everyone rightly wants a part of is the result of her hard work. The music companies would've been happy to continue ripping them all off like they've done both historically and contemporaneously. Is is possible that she got aggressive? Yes. Even while she's still alive the woman who proudly wh0red with her husband while Bob was shamelessly wh0ring is part of a narrative to make her his "true" love in a way that's virulently antiBlack. And Black people, like me, are not immune to doing so. Rita as the darkskinned Rasta woman they could and DID frequently dismiss is easy to heap blame on in a way reminiscent of what was done to Mama Winnie Madikizela despite how her tireless work kept Nelson Mandela's case at the fore both nationally and globally. I do come bearing a peace-offering: in the event that you're up for an academic overview of a paper on Bob by a Jamaican scholar, Prof. Michelle A. Stephens' work is discussed by Prof Jared A. Ball (Black Power Media KZbin Channel). It's entitled, "A New Bob Marley Film: One Love and Another Warning". Fair warning: just as your (and other) statements invite me to probe disconcerting possibilities around Rita Marley, this article explores the idea that the superficial, watered down, saccharine pseudo-distillation of Bob as "One Love" & "Jamming" as the colorblind, deracinated from Rasta community and Wailer collective is a function of U.S. Capitalism and a means of assuaging any discomfort about Bob's/Rasta PanAfrican focus on Black liberation and shared identity. I fully agree that you and I as well as others grappling with all of this will keep Familyman and others in their rightful place(s) at the front and center. (I may be destabilizing my own point by directing you to another video here on YT where Mama Beverly Kelso weeps about being unknown by Bob's children. By all accounts, she seems poor. This loops back to my earliest point that the Marleys may be the most visible because they parlayed what they got into some real money making moves...even the dubious ones like shoes, etc.)

[@PapiLeeuw]

G.O.A.T

[@onlyjoetee]

Great great man

[@rvbsoundfactory]

Word, word. Sad news.

[@clementmakamo4557]

Well research

[@stevenmorris8176]

Dude was no joke

[@virginiebohio5259]

... Amen Amen

[@Gary-vl7lp]

Aston and BOB together now talking about the movie premiere....he and Carlie were Underpaid and Not appreciated properly.. his brother Carlie is by far the best " RIM SHOT " drummer ever..but it doesn't matter what they we're PAID...they are on every single track and,..( will ) Eventually be recognized for the work and contributions..

[@watsonunlimitedmusic]

It's a tough one. Music and copyright law don't really fit well. There is a thing called 'Neighbouring Rights' now that covers a musician's right to their own performance as a unique expression regardless of who wrote it. But there isn't much infrastructure around that yet. Classically the bass line was considered part of the arrangement not part of the song.. so no publishing royalties except for a couple of writing credits.

[@zurimoore2545]

May you find peace

[@maxwaldburg4286]

Anyone know who would have played lead guitar on the Babylon by bus live album?

[@DavidHernandez-jv3zw]

Fi truuuuu!!!! ...Because of the truths and rights let-alone the high Spiritual-content of Jahspel music Roots,Rock,Reggae music the King's music thus being the the World's best music MotherEarth's best music (without apology😇) and Bro. Familyman plays/played the Bass for and in Jahspel music, ...to me ( now again saying very humbly without apology) that makes him the BEST BASS-PLAYER EVER!!!! ...Therefore I (and I'm sure others) have re-named his last-name from "Barrett" to"Bassett"!! ...And Bro. Carlton's re-named to "Snarett" from "Barrett"!! ...Rastafari!!!! 😇😊😁😇😊🙏🙏💚💛❤️🎸🎸🎸🙏

[@SPEEDBOATTarnell]

Saturday. The 3rd of December….2024. Think bout dat one, mon.

[@markmunguas]

😂

[@MSM4981]

11:18 There is need for editing. We are not yet in Dec 2024. He passed in Feb

[@andrethompson2034]

This video was better than the One Love movie 😐

[@JamsterGee]

He also wrote songs as well

[@JaemanEdwards]

As both a bass player and drummer, Family Man has always been lauded for his dirty basslines, but Carlton was equally influential in the drum world. Untouchable. Both brothers. Their old man must have had rhythm coursing thru his blood. I wonder if their kids were as disappointing as the Marley sons were. Sounded like him but all lacked the punch of a Barrett brothers rhythm section.

[@shakadee6839]

A very good musician inspired a lot of musicians from his early days. Put out some of the greatest music to hit the human ears should of been up there in the top 5 best base players, I would love to see who them put up infront of him. Those sessions with Lee Perry were mind blowing before the wailers hooked up with them and that when they combined has got to be the greatest material to ever hit the human ears him and his brother Carlton was the driving force behind the music and putting Jamaica on the global map. All those albums I have and you cant fault none of them in the Lee Perry eara. But when other band members notice your behaviour towards other people and they would rather his younger brother says alot. I would of liked to asked him why he was not present at Bob's bedside when he wanted to give the band instructions and his blessings is something I couldn't get my head around because he was driven for the greed of money which was well documented and highlighted. The love for Bob was not there and that is coming from other band members hence why all the over recording payment he messed up. And I heard you mention it in your interview. As a band you move as one unit but he decided to take on Rita Marley and Chris Whitewell on his own and lost in the high courts I've been following this hole mess from in the late 80's even Bunny wailer lickout on certain things. He get money and those receipts had his signature to prove that money was paid out that is why you have so many different factions of the wailers at least 4 that says it all there is more that I can talk about because I followed the mess very closely but top musician but the law side of it he never had a clue and as a result they all paid the cost because any royalties that should be rewarded should be to the band because whitewell does not know a thing about music is the musicians thing that but a hope that he finds peace on the other side Aston Familyman Barrett ❤💛💚RIP🇯🇲🎤😥