Influential Jamaican reggae artist Robbie Shakespeare – one half of the duo Sly and Robbie – has died aged 68.

He died in Florida where he had recently been in hospital for kidney surgery, the Jamaica Gleaner reports.

The prolific bassist and music producer is credited with revolutionising the sound of reggae and dancehall music.

Jamaica’s Culture Minister Olivia Grange announced his death and said Shakespeare was one of the country’s great musicians.

“[Sly and Robbie] took bass playing and drumming to the highest level as they made music for themselves as a group, and for many other artists locally and internationally,” she said in a statement.

BBC Radio 1Xtra reggae music presenter David Rodigan said Shakespeare “played his bass guitar like nobody else”.

Shakespeare helped create the unique sounds heard in Murder She Wrote and Bam Bam – two songs considered some of the most legendary and important in reggae and dancehall.

They also produced music for movie soundtracks, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Poetic Justice.

Shakespeare was nominated for 13 Grammy awards and won two – in 1984 for best reggae recording for Anthem, and then in 1998 for best reggae album for Friends.