Toots & the Maytals
formed - 1960
(Kingston, Jamaica)
Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert
Nathaniel 'Jerry' Mathias/McCarthy
Henry 'Raleigh' Gordon
The Maytals were key figures in reggae music. Comprised of leader Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, Nathaniel "Jerry" Mathias and Raleigh Gordon, all natives of Kingston, the Maytals are said to have been the first group to use the word 'reggae' in a song title with their Leslie Kong-produced "Do the Reggay."
Formed in the early '60s when ska was hot, the Maytals had a reputation for having strong, well-blended voices and a seldom rivaled passion for their music. Hibbert's soulful style led him to be compared to Otis Redding. They first recorded with producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and the resulting album, Hallelujah, offered a blend of gospel-style vocals and soul sung to a horn-driven Jamaican beat. They were popular from the start, but after recording a few sides with Studio One, they left Dodd in favor of Prince Buster. With him, they soon gained a bigger Jamaican following and also became popular in Great Britain. The Maytals began working with Byron Lee in 1966. Hits from this era include "Dog War," "Daddy" and "Broadway Jungle." That year Lee and his Dragonaires backed the Maytals at the premiere Jamaican Festival Song Competition. Their song, "Bam Bam," won the contest and began a rapid ascent to real stardom. Occasionally, the Maytals would record with other producers, who perhaps to keep from having to pay royalties, would put different band names on the labels such as the Vikings, the Royals and the Flames. The Maytals were reaching the height of their popularity towards the end of 1966 when Hibbert was arrested for smoking and possessing ganja and was sent to prison for 18 months. Fortunately the other two Maytals, who were best friends with Hibbert and realized that they could not possibly recreate their unique sound with another front man, waited for him.
When Hibbert was released, the band started working with legendary producer Leslie Kong. This was a time of transition in Jamaican popular music and ska was being replaced by the angry, violent music of Rude Boys, and this in turn was becoming reggae. The Maytals changed accordingly, but still kept that soul and gospel-influenced sound that made them unique. While in prison, Hibbert had honed his songwriting skills. Their first Kong single "54-46 That's My Number," a reference to Hibbert's prison number, recounted his experiences and suggested that he was jailed on a trumped up charge because he was a Rastafarian. It became a huge hit in both Jamaica and England and has since become a rocksteady standard. Other major songs from this time include the scathingly funny "Monkey Man," and "Sweet and Dandy," which provided the Maytals with a second win at the 1969 Festival Song Competition. One of their all time great hits, "Pressure Drop," from the soundtrack of the definitive reggae film The Harder They Come. By 1971, they had not only become the biggest act on the island, they were also (thanks to signing with Chris Blackwell's Island Records) international stars. Then Leslie Kong died. They moved on to producer Byron Lee, and though the hits continued, things began to slow down. It was Lee who renamed them Toots & the Maytals. Hibbert and the group broke up in 1981. From there Hibbert began working with producers Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. He had international success through the '80s. Hibbert created a new Maytals in the early '90s and continues touring the world with them.
-- Courtesy (Sandra Brennan, All-Music Guide) --
 Toots and The Maytals were formed in 1960, disbanded in 1981, and were then reformed in 1990. One of the important early groups in reggae, Toots and the Maytals, was founded by Kingston natives Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, Nathaniel "Jerry" Mathias and Raleigh Gordon formed the Maytals in the early 60s, and are said to have been the first group to use the word 'reggae' with their song titled "Do the Reggay." Originally a ska band, the Maytals were known for their strong vocals and harmony. Hibbert's soulful style in particular was often compared to his R&B hero, Otis Redding. The Maytals, like many of their contemporaries, first recorded at Studio One with producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and their first album, Hallelujah, was popular, but after recording a few sides with Studio One, they left and joined up with producer Prince Buster. With him, they soon gained a bigger Jamaican following and also became popular in Great Britain.
From the mid-60s on they scored a number of hits with different producers, including "Dog War," "Daddy" and "Broadway Jungle" but only achieved real stardom after winning the 1966 Jamaican Festival Song Competition with their song, "Bam Bam." From that point on, to avoid having to pay royalties, the Maytals would put different band names on the labels such as the Vikings, the Royals and the Flames, while retaining and building their fan base. Towards the end of 1966 when the band's popularity was at a peak, the band's leader and chief songwriter Hibbert was arrested for marijuana possession and sentenced to prison for 18 months. Rather than dissolve the group, the remaining Maytals loyally stood by their friend and refused to record until he was released.
Reunited, the band began recording legendary producer Leslie Kong. Jamaican popular music was changing: ska and earlier forms of music were pushed aside by the angry, violent music of groups like the Rude Boys, and this in turn was becoming reggae. The Maytals adapted, but still kept their unique soul and gospel-influenced sound intact. Their first single with Kong, "54-46 That's My Number," (a reference to Hibbert's prison number) displayed a socially conscious bent and Hibbert's belief that he had been jailed on a trumped up charge because he was a Rastafarian. The song was a huge hit in both Jamaica and England and helped usher in the reggae substyle called rocksteady. Other major songs from this era include the satirical "Monkey Man," and "Sweet and Dandy," which scored the Maytals a second win at the 1969 Song Festival.
One of the Maytals all time great hits, "Pressure Drop," came from the soundtrack of the reggae film The Harder They Come. By 1971, they were the biggest act in Jamaica and international stars, signed to London's Island Records. But with the death of Leslie Kong , their momentum began to flag. Renaming the band Toots & the Maytals didn't help, and the group broke up in 1981. Hibbert began working with producers Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Hibbert had international success through the '80s, created a new Maytals in the early '90s and continues touring with them. |
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