Toots and the Maytals

Reggae owes a lot to Toots Hibbert. The ageless frontman of the classic Jamaican band Toots and the Maytals claims he's the first person to mention the word reggae on wax. His 1968 hit single, "Do the Reggay," was recorded when reggae was just a dance and not even a...

By Jonathan Cunningham

August 28, 2008

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Reggae owes a lot to Toots Hibbert. The ageless frontman of the classic Jamaican band Toots and the Maytals claims he's the first person to mention the word reggae on wax. His 1968 hit single, "Do the Reggay," was recorded when reggae was just a dance and not even a genre yet. There's a good chance he really is the first person to mention it in a song, but even without that tidbit, Toots is still one of the most popular and talented Jamaican singers of all time. Although he's the only founding member left of the Maytals, he's got enough energy to be a band all by himself: At 62, the man still jumps around on stage, dances himself into a sweaty frenzy, and still hits all his notes with chilling accuracy. The group has a bevy of hits, too many to work into a single concert actually, but staples like "Funky Kingston," "Pressure Drop," "Monkey Man," and "Bam Bam" are sure to get the crowd up on their feet. In fact, chances are the show will have so many upbeat moments the audience won't have an opportunity to sit down.

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