Aston Barrett

• Name — Aston Barrett • Honorific Suffix — CD • Birth Name — Aston Francis Barrett • Alias — Family Man • Born — 22 November 1946 • Birthplace — Kingston, Jamaica • Died — 3 February 2024 • Place of death — Miami, Florida, U.S. • Instrument — * Bass guitar • guitar • keyboards • percussions • Genre — Reggae • Occupation — * Songwriter • musician • arranger • record producer • Years Active — 1962–2019 • Past Member Of — *Bob Marley & The Wailers • Burning Spear • Lee "Scratch" Perry • King Tubby • Augustus Pablo • Peter Tosh • Bunny Wailer • Alpha Blondy • The Agrovators Aston Francis Barrett, CD (22 November 1946 – 3 February 2024), often called "Family Man" or "Fams" for short, was a Jamaican musician and Rastafarian. He was best known as the bass-guitar bandleader of Bob Marley and The Wailers, as well as co-producer of the albums, and the man in charge of the overall song arrangements.

Aston Francis Barrett was born on 22 November 1946 in Kingston, Jamaica. He was the fourth of five children, and first son, of Wilfred and Violet Barrett. Barrett sang along to soul music as a child, then learned the bass, building his first bass guitar from scratch. As young men, Barrett and his younger brother Carlton earned a meager income as welders while doing session work on the side.

Along with his brother Carlton on drums, Barrett went on to play with Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Hippy Boys and Lee Perry's The Upsetters.

Barrett was the mentor and teacher of Robbie Shakespeare of the duo Sly & Robbie.

Barrett played a Fender Jazz Bass and used Acoustic 370 and Ampeg SVT bass amplifiers.

In 2006 Barrett filed a lawsuit against Island Records, the Wailers' label, seeking £60 million in unpaid royalties allegedly due him and his now deceased brother. The lawsuit was dismissed. The arguments by Island-Universal and the Marley family was that Barrett surrendered his rights to any further royalties in a 1994 settlement in exchange for several hundred thousand dollars. The judge agreed. As a result, he faced about £2 million in legal costs for the trial, forcing him to sell two homes in Jamaica.

Barrett's "Family Man" nickname came about before he had any children of his own. Barrett foresaw his role as a band leader and started to call himself "Family Man". He subsequently fathered 41 children: 23 daughters and 18 sons. He also claimed to have 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Barrett died of heart failure after a series of strokes in Miami, Florida on 3 February 2024, at the age of 77.

• Familyman in Dub [197X]

• Aston Barrett – Familyman in Dub [197X] • Horace Andy & Winston Jarrett & Wailers – The Kingston Rock [1974] • Various Artists – Cobra Style [197X] • Various Artists – Juvenile Delinquent [1981]

• Bob Marley and the Wailers – Confrontation [1983] • Bob Marley and the Wailers – Exodus [1977] • Judy Mowatt- Black Woman [1980]

• Aston Barrett – Familyman in Dub [197X] • Alpha Blondy & Wailers – Jerusalem [1986] • Keith Hudson – Pick A Dub [1974] • Bob Marley and the Wailers – Catch a Fire (1973) • Bob Marley and the Wailers – I Shot the Sheriff • Bob Marley and the Wailers – Jamming • Bob Marley and the Wailers – Three Little Birds • Augustus Pablo – King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown (1976) • Burning Spear – Marcus Garvey (1975) • Burning Spear – Dry & Heavy (1977) • Burning Spear – Marcus' Children – originally released as Social Living (1978) • Peter Tosh – Legalize It [1976]

Aston Barrett was recorded at birth as Aston Francis Barrett. He also worked under the names Family Man and Fams. The authorities additionally record the headings Family Man, Fams and Aston "Family Man" Barrett.

Aston Barrett is recorded as bassist, guitarist, composer, record producer and musician.