Boris Gardiner
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
2
Records
Boris Gardiner's greatest achievement may be the quiet but monumental impact of his basslines on reggae music. His work on "Real Rock" is repeatedly cited as one of the most influential basslines in the genre. The sampling of his song "Every Nigger Is a Star" by Kendrick Lamar on the critically acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly and its use in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight brought his music to a global audience decades after its original release. His UK No. 1 hit "I Wanna Wake Up with You" remains a beloved classic. Gardiner's longevity and continued activity into his 80s speak to his dedication to music.
Records & Feats
Most influential bassline in reggae history
Gardiner's bassline on "Real Rock" is widely considered one of the most influential in reggae.
Song sampled on a Pulitzer Prize-winning album
His 1973 song "Every Nigger Is a Star" was sampled on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, which won a Pulitzer Prize.