Biography
Aston Francis Barrett, known as 'Family Man' or 'Fams,' was born on November 22, 1946, in Kingston, Jamaica. He was the fourth of five children and the first son of Wilfred and Violet Barrett. From a young age, Barrett was drawn to music, singing along to soul records before teaching himself the bass and even building his first bass guitar from scratch. He and his younger brother Carlton began their musical journey as welders by day and session musicians by night, eventually rising to prominence in the Jamaican music scene. Barrett's early career included work with several influential bands and producers, notably Lee 'Scratch' Perry's house band, the Upsetters, and the Hippy Boys, which became the core rhythm section for Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1972. As the band's bandleader, arranger, and co-producer, Barrett played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of reggae, pioneering the genre's signature bass-heavy style and the 'one drop' rhythm alongside his brother. His melodic, earthy bass lines and innovative arrangements became synonymous with the Wailers' recordings and live performances, helping to propel Bob Marley to global stardom. After Marley's death in 1981, Barrett continued to lead The Wailers as a touring band, cementing his legacy as a foundational figure in reggae and dub music.
Fun Facts
- Aston Barrett earned the nickname 'Family Man' as a young musician, reflecting his role in keeping bands together and fostering group unity.
- He and his brother Carlton pioneered the 'one drop' rhythm, a signature reggae style where the bass and drums skip the downbeat.
- Barrett's first recording as a session bassist was for Bunny 'Striker' Lee's group, The Uniques, on a song called 'Lee Perry' credits Barrett with helping to birth the first dub release globally with the track 'Clint Eastwood'.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Jackie Jackson - Early ska and rocksteady bassist who influenced Barrett's approach to bass playing (The Supersonics) [1960s]
- Lloyd Brevett - Skatalites bassist and early influence on Barrett's style (The Skatalites) [1960s]
- Leroy Sibbles - Heptones bassist and stylistic influence (The Heptones) [1960s]
Key Collaborators
- Carlton 'Carly' Barrett - Barrett's younger brother and longtime musical partner; together they formed the core rhythm section for Bob Marley & The Wailers and Lee Perry's Upsetters (Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Upsetters, The Hippy Boys) [1960s–1980s]
- Bob Marley - Barrett was the bandleader, arranger, and co-producer for Bob Marley & The Wailers (Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, Exodus) [1972–1981]
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Barrett and his brother were key members of Perry's house band, The Upsetters (The Upsetters, various Perry-produced tracks) [1969–1970s]
- Peter Tosh - Barrett played with Tosh during his time with The Wailers (The Wailers recordings) [1972–1974]
- Bunny Wailer - Barrett played with Bunny Wailer during his time with The Wailers (The Wailers recordings) [1972–1974]
Artists Influenced
- Robbie Shakespeare - Barrett was the mentor and teacher of Shakespeare, who later became half of the legendary duo Sly & Robbie (Sly & Robbie) [1970s–1980s]
- Ali Campbell - Frontman of UB40, who credits the Barrett brothers as inventors of reggae as we know it (UB40) [1980s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Running Free | 2007-10-08 | Album |
| Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982 | 2018-04-13 | Album |
| Legendary Wailers In Dub | 2002 | Album |
| Time for Peace | 2014-10-31 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Cell Block 11 (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Soul Constitution (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Gideons High (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Soul Constitution (Soul Constitution)
- Eastern Memphis (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Cell Block 11 (Soul Constitution)
- Guided Missile (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Distant Drums (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Distant Drums (Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971-1982)
- Village Ghetto Land (Running Free)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
aston family man barrett has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2025 | 21:03 | pleasing dubfrom familyman in dub | Spirits of Congo Squarew/ Baba Geno |