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Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group, was born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1958 at the age of thirteen. In Kingston, Hibbert met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming in 1962 a group whose early recordings were incorrectly attributed to "The Flames" and "The Vikings" by Island records in the UK.
The Maytals first had chart success recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured success, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming vocal group, The Wailers. After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster before recording with Byron Lee in 1965. With Lee, the Maytals won their first Festival Popular Song Competition with "Bam Bam". However, the group's musical career was interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned. Toots states that he was not arrested for ganja but while bailing a friend. He also states that he made up the number 54-46 when writing 54-46 That's My Number about his time in jail.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the Maytals began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration a string of hits throughout the late sixties and early seventies - "Do the Reggay", a 1968 single widely credited with coining the word reggae, "Pressure Drop", "54-46" the 1969 Jamaica festival's popular song winner, "Sweet & Dandy" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970 . In 1972 they won their third Jamaica festival popular song with "Pomps & Pride". The group was also featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events - The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff, named as one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 Best Soundtracks of all time.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; the group released three best-selling albums produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1975. Following the release of "Reggae Got Soul", Toots & The Maytals were invited to tour as the warm-up act for The Who during their North American Tour. The tour went poorly and Toots & The Maytals never went on the success of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh in the US.
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae-punk and ska revival period in the UK, when The Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and The Clash produced their version of "Pressure Drop". They were also included in the Bob Marley and the Wailers song, *Punky Reggae Party". "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash, The Maytals will be there, Dr. Feelgood too".
Having toured throughout the world for many years, Toots and the Maytals disbanded in the early 1980s, but reformed in the early 90s to continue touring and recording successfully. Sublime recorded cover versions of some Maytals songs in the 1990s as well.
The group recently won the 2005 Grammy award for best reggae album True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists today such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
In 2006, they recorded a reggae/ska version of Radiohead's Let Down for the tribute album, Radiodread, by the Easy Star All-Stars. The album is a complete song for song makeover of the English rock band's album OK Computer into reggae, dub and ska. Let Down has been frequently cited by reviewers as one of the successes of the album.
A follow up to 2004's Love was being recorded in 2005 and released in 2007, and featured re-workings of classics such as "Johnny Cool Man" as well as new material. Light Your Light was nominated for the Grammy in the category Best Reggae Album.
Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots' Hibbert passed away September 11, 2020 at age 77.
Do the Reggay
The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you love me? (yeah)
Do you really want me? (yeah)
with all your heart (yeah)
I want to do the reggay (yeah)
With you (yeah)
Come onto me (Let's)
Do the dance (yeah)
Is this the new dance? (yeah)
Going around the town? (yeah)
We can move you baby (then)
Do the reggay
Do the reggay
Reggay reggay reggay
La la la la la laaaa
The lyrics to The Maytals' song "Do the Reggay" are a call to action, inviting listeners to join in on the new dance craze that's sweeping the town. The lead singer asks if the listener loves him and really wants to do the reggay with him, emphasizing that he wants to dance with them with all their heart. The reggay dance is then introduced as the new craze around town and the lead singer promises to "move" the listener as they do the reggay. The chorus repeats the refrain of "reggay reggay reggay" in a joyful and uplifting melody.
The song has a distinctly Jamaican sound, incorporating elements of ska and reggae music. The lyrics themselves are an example of the lively and upbeat style of Jamaican dancehall music, focused on encouraging the audience to participate and join in on the fun. In this way, the song serves as an invitation for listeners to connect with the community and embrace the new cultural phenomenon of reggay dancing.
Overall, "Do the Reggay" is a testament to the power of music to unite people and create shared experiences. Through its catchy lyrics and infectious melody, the song inspires a sense of joy and celebration, encouraging listeners to let loose and embrace the moment. It's a testament to the enduring influence of Jamaican music and its ability to connect with people all over the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a rich one (yeah)
I have found someone who is financially well-off and desirable.
Do you love me? (yeah)
Do you have a strong affection towards me?
Do you really want me? (yeah)
Do you truly desire to be with me?
with all your heart (yeah)
With complete sincerity and devotion.
I want to do the reggay (yeah)
I would like to dance to the reggae music.
With you (yeah)
Together with you, specifically.
Come onto me (Let's)
Join me closely and intimately.
Do the dance (yeah)
Perform the movements that correspond to the music.
Is this the new dance? (yeah)
Is this the latest and most popular style of dance?
Going around the town? (yeah)
Is it spreading and becoming widely known throughout the community?
We can move you baby (then)
We have the ability to make you dance and enjoy the music.
Do the reggay
Perform the dance steps accompanied by reggae music.
Reggay reggay reggay
Repeating the name of the music genre, reggae.
La la la la la laaaa
Nonsensical vocalization to blend with the music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@7DaZ
RIP Toots! Thanks for the beautiful vibes and Reggae music that blessed the world.
@taionsmith9541
He's not dead?
@sdewaard
RIP Toots
@GRPLiningServices
Respect :)
@zookid4
RIP Toots real legendary artist
@TimJacksonOriginal
RIP Toots... sad news. Kingston is suddenly a whole lot less funky.
@kenkovar2647
one of the most original artists on the planet earth, I feel blessed to have been inspired, lifted, motivated, captivated by Sir Toots....🇯🇲🙏🏿
@jaybrunot8868
How blessed we are to have had the great Mr. Hibbert all these years. Do the reggae forever, man!
@loempiavreter
Hugh Malcolm set the standard for reggae drumming right here! Watch that hightat swing, his drumming was unique and it kinda caused the shift from rocksteady to reggae.
@pjbondi
Spot on, brother.