Celebrated audio engineer and reggae music producer Sheldon ‘Calibud’ Stewart has died at the age of 47, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He passed away on July 1 in New York, where he had been receiving treatment.
“Everything happened so fast. We are still absorbing it,” said a source close to the family, highlighting the shock surrounding his sudden diagnosis and rapid decline.
Born in Hanover and raised in Kingston, Stewart attended Calabar High School before becoming deeply embedded in Jamaica’s reggae scene. He grew up in Waterhouse and later Hughenden—areas that were central to the legacy of his stepfather, the late legendary producer Robert ‘Bobby Digital’ Dixon. As an engineer, Calibud contributed to many of Dixon’s influential projects, including Sizzla’s iconic 1997 album Black Woman and Child.
Striking out on his own, Stewart founded the Cali Bud label, known for championing one-drop reggae and culturally conscious music. He produced powerful tracks such as Never Go Where Pagans Go by Warrior King, I Burn by Bushman, and QQ’s Betta Mus Come, all of which made a lasting impact on the genre.
Warrior King, who worked closely with Calibud on his first two albums, paid a heartfelt tribute: “He was like a big brother to me… even though we had our differences at times as brothers do, I have nothing but love for him. This one hit really hard.” He added, “We have created soo many classics which have inspired soo many people around the world… his works will live on for eternity.”
Calibud also worked with reggae greats like Buju Banton, producing Mr Nine, and Norris Man on Sweetest Time.
Stewart is survived by his mother, father, two children, and several brothers and sisters. His passing marks a deep loss for the reggae community, but his musical legacy will continue to resonate across generations.
