The Maytals

The Maytals

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1962
Founder	Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, Henry "Raleigh" Gordon, Nathaniel "Jerry" Mathias
Headquarters	Kingston , Jamaica
Products	Music albums, singles

The Maytals, originally known as Toots and the Maytals from 1972 until 2020, are a renowned Jamaican band celebrated as one of the foremost vocal ensembles in ska and rocksteady. Established in the early 1960s, they significantly contributed to bringing reggae music to a wider audience.

The group's lead singer, Toots Hibbert, who passed away in 2020, was esteemed as a trailblazer in reggae on par with Bob Marley. His deeply expressive singing style earned him a spot among Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Singers. After Hibbert's death, the Maytals confirmed their intention to carry on performing.

Their 1968 track "Do the Reggay" holds the distinction of being the first recording to feature the term "reggae", effectively naming and promoting the genre internationally. The Oxford English Dictionary acknowledges Toots and the Maytals in the origin of the word "Reggae". As Island Records founder Chris Blackwell remarked, "The Maytals were unlike anything else ... sensational, raw, and dynamic."

Formation and early achievements

Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica in 1942, grew up immersed in gospel music through church singing before relocating to Kingston in the late 1950s.

The Maytals

In 1962, Hibbert connected with Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" Mathias in Kingston, creating The Maytals as a vocal trio. Early UK releases were incorrectly attributed to other artists by Island Records. The lineup expanded with musicians Jackie Jackson, Hux Brown, Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan, and Paul Douglas joining later. By 1972, the band adopted the name Toots and the Maytals—"Toots" referring to Hibbert himself and "the Maytals" representing the instrumentalists and backing singers. In a 2016 radio interview, Jackie Jackson noted that after signing with Island Records under Chris Blackwell’s leadership, the backing band formally became part of Toots and the Maytals, leading to extensive touring from 1975 onward.

The 1960s

The Maytals first gained chart recognition recording with producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One, supported by Dodd’s house band, the Skatalites. Their gospel-inspired harmonies quickly surpassed those of peers such as the Wailers. After two years at Studio One, they collaborated with Prince Buster and then Byron Lee in 1966. That same year, they won the inaugural Jamaican Independence Festival Popular Song Competition with "Bam Bam," a song later covered by Sister Nancy and Yellowman without royalties being paid to Toots and the Maytals.

Their momentum was interrupted when Hibbert was incarcerated for 18 months starting in late 1966 on marijuana possession charges; he later explained that his arrest occurred while he was bailing out a friend. This experience inspired their hit "54-46 That's My Number."

Following Hibbert’s release in 1967, the group partnered with Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong to create numerous hits throughout the late 1960s into the early 1970s—including "Do the Reggay" (1968), recognized as the first song to use "reggae," thereby naming the musical style.

Among their most iconic reggae tracks are "Pressure Drop," "Sweet and Dandy," and "54-46 That's My Number."

The 1970s

In 1970, the group achieved their first international success with the single "Monkey Man." By the following year, they had signed a contract with Chris Blackwell's Island Records, which reassembled the band featuring Toots Hibbert as the lead vocalist supported by The Maytals Band. They rapidly rose to become Jamaica's premier musical act and gained worldwide recognition. Blackwell initially focused on breaking into the UK market, distributing their albums through Island's Dragon Records label. His company played a crucial role in popularizing reggae globally, promoting artists such as Toots and the Maytals, Lee Scratch Perry, and Sly and Robbie.

In 1972, the band secured their third victory at the Jamaican Independence Festival Popular Song Competition with "Pomp and Pride." That same year, they contributed two tracks to the soundtrack of The Harder They Come, a film that introduced Jamaican music to American audiences and included an appearance by the band.

Following Kong’s passing in 1971, the ensemble continued recording with his former sound engineer Warrick Lyn. Producer Byron Lee renamed them Toots & the Maytals. Under Lyn and Blackwell’s production, they released three commercially successful albums and scored international hits with Funky Kingston (1973) and Reggae Got Soul (1975). Music critic Lester Bangs described Funky Kingston as "perfection," calling it the most dynamic and varied reggae album by a single artist to date. Blackwell expressed deep admiration for Toots, highlighting his integrity and career longevity. To promote these albums, they toured alongside acts such as the Who, Jackson Browne, the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt.

In 1975, Toots and the Maytals shared the stage with Santana (band) as headliners at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. Their live set at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles on 1 October 1975 was broadcast on KMET-FM, later remastered and issued as the Sailin' On album through Klondike Records.

After releasing Reggae Got Soul, they supported the Who during their North American tour from 1975 to 1976.

Between 1978 and 1980, amid the UK’s reggae, punk, and ska revival, their songs experienced a resurgence in popularity. The Specials covered "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut record, while the Clash recorded their version of "Pressure Drop." Additionally, Bob Marley & the Wailers referenced the band in their track "Punky Reggae Party", alongside leading punk and reggae musicians.

Guinness Book of World Records

On 29 September 1980, the band undertook an ambitious project to record, manufacture, and distribute the album Toots Live within a single day in an effort to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. The live performance was captured on two-inch, 24-track analog tape and swiftly handed over to sound engineers. After determining the track sequence, the record label artwork was designed and printed. Masters, labels, and covers were shipped separately to Gedmel factory near Leicester, where final assembly took place before delivery to Coventry for the band's concert the following day—successfully meeting the 24-hour target. However, due to a procedural oversight—Island Records’ Rob Bell acknowledged that prior notification was necessary but not provided—the feat was never officially recognized by Guinness. The official record for fastest album release was only acknowledged in 2008 when Vollgas Kompanie matched this timeframe with their album Live.

Following their 1981 album Knockout, the group disbanded. In 1982, Toots & the Maytals’ track "Beautiful Woman" reached number one on New Zealand charts.

Throughout the 1980s, Hibbert pursued solo recording projects.

1990s

A revamped lineup of the Maytals emerged in the early 1990s. In February 1990, they appeared on VH1's New Visions World Beat, which was guest-hosted by Nile Rodgers. Throughout the mid-1990s, the band maintained an active schedule of touring and recording, including two performances at Reggae Sunsplash.

2000s

The 2004 album True Love saw Toots & the Maytals revisit their classic hits with collaborations from notable artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Trey Anastasio, No Doubt, Ben Harper, the Roots, and Shaggy. This release garnered widespread critical praise from media outlets including NPR and Rolling Stone and secured the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

In the same year, Donald Trump commended the band, mentioning that their performance on Saturday Night Live helped him unwind during his guest host stint.

In 2006, Toots & the Maytals contributed a reggae/ska rendition of Radiohead’s "Let Down" to Radiodread, a tribute album reimagining OK Computer. August 2007 brought the release of Light Your Light, which combined refreshed versions of classics like "Johnny Cool Man" with new songs; this album was nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for best reggae album.

With thirty-one chart-topping singles, Toots & the Maytals hold Jamaica’s record for the most number one hits.

For Island Records' 50th anniversary celebration in 2009, they were scheduled to perform alongside Amy Winehouse at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire. Following Winehouse’s cancellation, Toots & the Maytals instead delivered a sold-out concert at Bush Hall.

2010s

In 2011, George Scott directed and Nick De Grunwald produced the documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals, which aired on BBC. Touted as "The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica," it features industry legends including Marcia Griffiths, Jimmy Cliff, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Ziggy Marley, and Chris Blackwell.

The live album released in 2012, Unplugged on Strawberry Hill, earned Hibbert his fifth Grammy nomination.

During a May 2013 concert in Richmond, Virginia, Hibbert sustained a head injury caused by a bottle thrown from the audience, resulting in a concussion and requiring six staples. Despite his appeals for leniency based on ongoing health complications affecting his performance and songwriting capabilities, the attacker was sentenced to six months. Following this event, Hibbert canceled all scheduled appearances, leading to a hiatus from live performances until 2016.

In 2015, Vogue included "54-46 Was My Number" among "15 Roots Reggae Songs You Should Know," recognizing Toots and the Maytals as part of early "reggae royalty" alongside icons like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, who also recorded at Kingston’s Studio 17.

The band announced their return to live touring in 2016, marking their first shows since 2013 with a performance at The Observatory North Park in San Diego.

In 2017, Toots and the Maytals took the stage at Coachella Fest, becoming only the second reggae-rooted act to appear there after Chronixx. Jamaican artist Sean Paul has cited them as inspirations for sustaining long careers.

At that year’s Glastonbury Festival, a scheduling error delayed their set, prompting organizers to reschedule them for a midnight performance. Later in 2017, they headlined the 35th anniversary of the UK’s WOMAD festival, delivering one of its standout shows.

The group embarked on a 50th anniversary tour in 2018 with North American dates from April through August followed by UK concerts beginning in October. On July 25, they premiered an original track titled "Marley" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, alongside their well-known hit "Funky Kingston". Later that summer at Virginia’s Lockn' Festival, guest musician Taj Mahal joined them on stage for "Monkey Man".

In July 2019, their song "Pressure Drop" was featured in a television commercial for Coors Light by Coors Brewing Company.

2020s

Toots Hibbert, the lead vocalist of Toots and the Maytals, passed away on 11 September 2020 at the age of 77.

After Hibbert's passing, questions emerged regarding the continuation of the band. In November 2020, Paul Douglas and Jackie Jackson affirmed that the group would persist as a homage to Hibbert’s legacy.

At the 63rd Grammy Awards on 14 March 2021, Toots and The Maytals received the Best Reggae Album award for their release Got to Be Tough.

In July 2021, Hibbert’s family issued a cease and desist order to the surviving members, barring them from using the name "The Maytals," which had been associated with them for over five decades. This action resulted in the cancellation of a tribute concert scheduled in London for 4 September 2021. By December 2021, following a half-century history, an out-of-court agreement was reached between the band and Hibbert’s estate concerning ownership of the band’s name and trademark. Individuals who were part of the band from 1972 through 2022 are now designated as "former members of The Maytals Band."

In May 2023, Nathaniel “Jerry Maytal” Mathias was identified as the sole surviving original member of The Maytals, having returned to Jamaica after residing in the United States for 43 years. His status as the only living founding member was reaffirmed during his 90th birthday celebration in May 2025.

Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan, who served as guitarist for nearly five decades, died in Florida on 16 October 2025 at age 78.

Current members

• Paul Douglas – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1969–1981, 1990–2013, 2016–present)
• Jackie Jackson – bass guitar, backing vocals (1969–1981, 1990–2013, 2016–present)
• Carl Harvey – guitar, backing vocals (1980–1981, 1990–2013, 2016–present)
• Marie "Twiggi" Gitten – backing vocals (1999–2013, 2016–present)
• Stephen Stewart – keyboards, backing vocals (2002–2013, 2016–present)
• Charles Farquharson – keyboards (1995–2000, 2003–2013, 2016–present)

Accolades

• Grammy nomination in 1981 for Toots Live!
• Best Reggae Album Grammy nomination in 1989 for Toots in Memphis
• Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 1998 for Skafather
• Winner of the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2004 with True Love
• Toots Hibbert recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Singers in 2010
• Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2013 for Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged On Strawberry Hill
• Holder of the Jamaican record for most number one singles with a total of 31 chart-toppers
• Grammy Award winner for Best Reggae Album in 2020 with Got To Be Tough

Museums and expositions

The band was featured in Exposition Jamaica Jamaica!, an exhibition held from April to August 2017 at the Philharmonie de Paris, which showcased their significant influence on reggae music’s evolution.

Saturday Night Live parody

In Season 41, Episode 4 of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Donald Trump, performers Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah impersonated Toots and The Maytals during a sketch where Trump introduced musical guest Sia. Additionally, Toots and The Maytals appeared as musical guests on Trump’s debut episode as host on 3 April 2004.

See also

• List of reggae musicians
• List of roots reggae artists
• List of ska musicians
• List of Caribbean music groups

External links

• Detailed discography available at X-Ray Music
• Interview with Toots conducted by Daiana Feuer, L.A. Record