Carlton Barrett
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.
Also recorded as Carlton "Carly" Barrett
Carlton Barrett
- Name
- Carlton Barrett
- Born
- 17 December 1950
- Birthplace
- Kingston, Jamaica
- Died
- 17 April 1987
- Occupation
- * Songwriter
- Nationality
- Jamaica
- Fields
- reggae · ska
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
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.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Carlton Barrett. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q1043430 · wikipedia · Carlton Barrett
In this article
Biography
Biography
Carlton Barrett was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1950, the second son of Wilfred and Violet Barrett. 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.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Carlton Barrett • Alias — * Carly • Field Marshal • Born — 17 December 1950 • Birthplace — Kingston, Jamaica • Died — 17 April 1987 • Place of death — Kingston, Jamaica • Instrument — * Drums • percussion • vocals • Genre — * Reggae • ska • rocksteady • Occupation — * Songwriter • musician • Years Active — Late 1960s – 1987 • Past Member Of — * Bob Marley & the Wailers • The Wailers Band • The Upsetters • I Threes
Death
Death
On 17 April 1987, a gunman shot and killed Barrett outside his home at 12 Bridgemount Park Avenue in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 36. Carlton Barrett's widow, Albertine Barrett, was subsequently jailed on 18 October 1991, after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. Sentenced with her were the taxi driver Glenroy Carter, 39, her reputed lover, and Junior "Bang" Neil, 39, a mason, who the prosecution alleged was responsible for the actual shooting.
Identity
Identity
Carlton Barrett is recorded as percussionist, drummer, songwriter and musician.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1987
Carlton Barrett died at Kingston.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1043430: Carlton Barrett
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Carlton Barrett”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority file
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Partially resolvedreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1043430: Carlton BarrettWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,307 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Carlos VivesPerson
- Carlos ZingaroPerson
- Carlotta FerrariPerson
- CarlpritPerson
- Carlton CooleyPerson
- Carlton GamerPerson
- Carlton RecordsOrganisation
- Carly McKillipPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Carlton Barrett?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.