Toots and The Maytals are from Kingston, Jamaica. It was the producer Byron Lee who 1971 renamed them Toots & the Maytals. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group and the lead singer, was born in May Pen in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1961 at the age of sixteen.
In Kingston, he met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming a group whose early recordings were attributed to "The Flames" and, possibly, "The Vikings". Having renamed the group the Maytals, the vocal trio recorded their first album, "Never Grow Old - presenting the Maytals", for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One in 1962-63. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured instant success for the 1964 release, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming gospel trio, The Wailers. The original album augmented by studio out-takes from the Studio One sessions was re-released by Heartbeat/Rounder Records in 1997, and is essential listening for Maytals and Skatalites fans.
After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster (released in 1974) before recording their second album produced by Byron Lee in 1965. However, the band's musical career was rudely interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned on drug possession charges.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the band began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration which produced three classic albums and 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" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970. The group was featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events -- The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, the group released three best-selling albums, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1976.
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", with other Maytals' covers being recorded by Sublime. 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.
In 2005, the band won a Grammy award for best reggae album for True Love, consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
They also contributed to the Easy Star All-Stars album 'Radiodread' (a dub tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer).
In 2016 Toots and the Maytals announced a return to the stage with their first tour in 3 years,[35] and on June 15 at The Observatory North Park in San Diego the group returned to the stage for the first time since 2013.
In 2017 Toots and the Maytals played Coachella Fest April 16 and 23 at 4:20 pm. They became the second reggae-based group to perform at the Coachella festival, after Chronixx in 2016.
In 2018, Toots and the Maytals launched a 50th anniversary tour with concert appearances in North America from April to August, moving to dates in the UK starting in October.
On July 25, 2018 Toots and the Maytals debuted an original song entitled "Marley" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and also played the classic "Funky Kingston".
On August 24, 2018 Toots and the Maytals performed at Lockn’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia, where guest Taj Mahal accompanied them on the song “Monkey Man”.
Frontman "Toots" Hibbert died on 12 September 2020.
Do the Reggay
Toots and 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 of the song "Do the Reggay" by Toots and The Maytals is a fun and upbeat invitation to dance with the person the singer is addressing. The lyrics start with a line that suggests the singer has found someone wealthy or rich and asks if they love him or her before inviting them to dance. The repeated phrase "Do you really want me?" emphasizes the singer's desire to be wanted by the person they are addressing. The chorus repeats the phrase "I want to do the reggay with you" indicating their desire to share the experience of dancing and enjoying the music together.
The next few lines suggest that the dance they are referring to may be a new trend in town that the singer is willing to introduce to their partner. The invitation to "come onto me" and "do the dance" reinforces the relationship between the singer and their partner. The final lines of the song repeatedly urge the listener to "do the reggay" and the combination of the chorus, "Reggay reggay reggay" and the la la las create an infectious and memorable tune.
Overall, the lyrics of the song convey feelings of affection, desire, and joy through the medium of dance, a universal language that brings people together. "Do the Reggay" by Toots and The Maytals is a classic and influential song that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire new generations of musicians and dancers alike.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a rich one (yeah)
I have found a wealthy partner to share my life with.
Do you love me? (yeah)
Are your feelings for me sincere and deep?
Do you really want me? (yeah)
Are you truly desiring a relationship with me?
with all your heart (yeah)
Do you have a genuine emotional connection to me?
I want to do the reggay (yeah)
I am interested in participating in the new dance craze called reggay.
With you (yeah)
I would like to engage in the reggay dance with you as my dance partner.
Come onto me (Let's)
Let's get close and intimate with each other.
Do the dance (yeah)
Let's dance together in the reggay style.
Is this the new dance? (yeah)
Is reggay the latest dance trend?
Going around the town? (yeah)
Is everyone in the town aware of and participating in the reggay dance craze?
We can move you baby (then)
We can both show off our dance moves and impress others with our skill.
Do the reggay
Let us participate in the reggay dance style.
Reggay reggay reggay La la la la la laaaa
The repetition of the word reggay and the la la la's are part of the catchy tune of the song and does not convey a specific meaning.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION
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.