Toots and the Maytals

The Maytals, originally known as Toots and the Maytals, are one of Jamaica’s most influential ska, rocksteady, and reggae groups, formed in the early 1960s. Fronted by the legendary Toots Hibbert, the band played a crucial role in shaping and popularizing reggae music worldwide. Hibbert’s powerful, gospel-influenced vocals earned comparisons to Otis Redding and placed him among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. The group made history in 1968 with the release of “Do the Reggay,” the first song to use the word reggae, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, the Maytals delivered timeless classics such as “54-46 That’s My Number,” “Pressure Drop,” “Monkey Man,” “Sweet and Dandy,” and “Funky Kingston,” becoming international stars and helping establish reggae as a major global music movement. After decades of recording, touring, and earning critical acclaim—including a Grammy Award for the album True Love—Toots Hibbert passed away in 2020. Following his death, the band continued under the name The Maytals, honoring his legacy. Today, the Maytals remain celebrated as reggae pioneers whose music laid the foundation for generations of artists and helped define Jamaican music on the world stage.