Toots Hibbert

Infobox musical artist
Name = Toots Hibbert


Img_capt = Toots Hibbert performing at The XM Sonic Stage at Bonnaroo on June 12, 2005
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert
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Born = Birth date and age|1945|12|10|mf=y
May Pen, Jamaica
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Origin = Kingston, Jamaica
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Genre = Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Roots reggae
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Associated_acts = The Maytals
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Toots Hibbert (born Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert, 10 December 1945, May Pen, Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica) is a ska and roots reggae singer and leader of the reggae band Toots and the Maytals.

As the youngest of seven children, he grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but went to Kingston when he was a teenager in the early 1960s. In Kingston he met Raleigh Gordon and Jerry Matthias, and they formed The Maytals. The Maytals became one of the most popular vocal groups in Jamaica in the 1960s, recording with producers Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Byron Lee and Leslie Kong. This success included winning Jamaica's National Popular Song Contest three times with songs Hibbert wrote: in 1966 with "Bam Bam", 1969 with "Sweet and Dandy", and 1972 with "Pomps & Pride". [http://www.jcdc.org.jm/PopularSong/winners.htm "JCDC list of festival popular song winners", Accessed October 20, 2007]

Hibbert was one of the first artists to use the word "reggae", in 1968's "Do The Reggay", an early reggae song. He also appeared in the groundbreaking Jamaican film "The Harder They Come". Toots still tours the world today, and his band won the Grammy for best reggae album in 2004. In 2006, Toots and the Maytals covered Radiohead's "Let Down" for the Easy Star All-Stars album "Radiodread", a reggae version of the English rock band's "OK Computer".

Much of Hibbert's recorded output reflects his mainstream evangelical Christian upbringing. He has been known to also write about Rastafarian themes as well. He also can play every instrument in his band. [album sleeve of DJ Derek Presents… Sweet Memory Sounds (2006).]

Popular culture

Hibbert was mentioned in the Soul Coughing song, "Disseminated", from their 1996 album, "Irresistible Bliss".

Legacy

Toots Hibbert's knack for writing memorable reggae hooks and iconic, powerful Jamaican vocals have left a lasting mark on Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady that can only be paralelled to greats such as Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff and Prince Buster. He has inspired generation after generation of Jamaican and non-Jamaican, through his music, and his message. While still actively touring at the age of 62, two of his children are poised to carry on his legacy: His son, Clayton, records and tours under the name Junior Toots, performing a Reggae/Hip Hop act that includes modern covers of several of Toots's songs. Also, Hibbert's daughter, Leba, fronts The Maytals Band, a tribute band to Toots and the Maytals, which tours internationally, spreading the music of Toots to the world.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.xraymusic.co.uk Comprehensive discography at X-Ray Music]