Toots and the Maytals…
Toots and the Maytals…Always one of Jamaica’s most soulful voices, Toots Hibbert and the Maytals, Jerry Mathias and Raleigh Gordon, began recording back in 1961. Toots had honed his vocal skills, along with his 4 brothers and 3 sisters, at the Baptist church. In the late ’50’s he garnered quite the reputation as a barber, not because of his work with the scissors, but because he sang while he worked. Jerry and Raleigh [who gave the group its name…Maytals], came around, liked what they heard, and wanted to form a group. They sang together, rehearsed, and taught one another all that they collectively knew. Old time religion was the foundation for much of their earliest recordings, from their first record for ‘Studio One’, ‘Hallelujah’, to the ‘6 & 7 Books of Moses’, to ‘Judgement Day’. Changing direction, ‘Bam Bam’ was the 1966 ‘Festival’ winner. The Maytals missed the Rock Steady era as Toots spent 2 years in jail following a ganja possession charge. Their triumphany return…’54-46, That’s My Number’ became one of their biggest hits ever. Still going strong, Toots Hibbert, along with the Maytals, have been with us since the dawn of Ska right up to today. Long may they run. Listen Now