Toots Hibbert Wiki – Toots Hibbert Biography
Toots Hibbert, Frederick Nathaniel was a Jamaican singer and songwriter, known as the leader for the reggae and ska band Toots & the Maytals. His 1968 song Do the Reggay is widely credited as the genesis of the name for Reggae music.
Toots Hibbert Age
Toots Hibbert has died at the age 77 years.
Family & Siblings
Hibbert was born in May Pen, Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica. Hibbert’s parents were both strict Seventh-day Adventist preachers so he grew up singing gospel music in a church choir. Both parents died young and by 11, Toots was an orphan who went to live with his brother John in the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston. In 1962, while working at a local barbershop, he was heard singing inside by Ralphus “Raleigh” Gordon and Nathaniel “Jerry” Matthias. They would become a trio forming The Maytals — which were named after Hibbert’s hometown of May Pen.
Wife & Chldren
He is survived by his wife and seven of his eight children.
Cause of Death
The legendary musician fronted the reggae and ska band Toots & the Maytals from the early 1960s. Hibbert “passed away peacefully” in Kingston, Jamaica surrounded by his family, the group announced on Friday. As yet it is unknown how Hibbert died, although he had been tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks and was put into intensive care. Hibbert is credited with popularising reggae music and even naming the genre – his 1968 single “Do the Reggay” is the first song to use the term.
In August 2020, it was reported that Hibbert was in the hospital “fighting for his life” in a medically-induced coma.
On September 12, 2020, a statement on the band’s Facebook page announced that Hibbert had passed away. The Gleaner later confirmed that announcement, reporting that Hibbert died at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica due to complications of COVID-19.
It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce that Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert passed away peacefully tonight, surrounded by his family at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica… pic.twitter.com/zOb6yRpJ7n
— Toots & The Maytals (@tootsmaytals) September 12, 2020
Other popular tracks include Pressure Drop, Sweet and Dandy, and 54-46 That’s My Number. In a statement, the band and Hibbert’s family thanked medical staff “for their care and diligence”. His death comes just weeks before the release of Got to Be Tough, the band’s first full-length album in more than a decade. Described as “the world’s greatest living reggae singer” in a Rolling Stone profile last month, his vocal style has been compared to Otis Redding. The magazine lists him as one of the 100 greatest singers of all time.
Tributes
Tributes poured in for the legendary musician on social media. UK actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry said he was “so sorry” to hear of his death. “His music was a constant in our house growing up,” he tweeted. “His voice was powerful and adaptable to funk, soul, country, AND reggae. Rest in power.” And Ziggy Marley – son of reggae icon Bob Marley – wrote on Twitter that Hibbert was “a father figure to me”.
The Legendary Toots Hibbert has passed i spoke w/him a few wks ago told him how much i loved him we laughed & shared our mutual respect. He was a father figure to me his spirit is w/us his music fills us w/his energy i will never forget him RIP MIGHTY & POWERFUL NYAH FYAH BALL 😢 pic.twitter.com/zIofrbYZU0
— Ziggy Marley (@ziggymarley) September 12, 2020
