Toots and the Maytals

Toots and the Maytals are a Jamaican vocal group led by singer Toots Hibbert, known for ska, rocksteady, and reggae and for the song “Do the Reggay.”

Toots Hibbert: Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert was a Jamaican singer and songwriter who led Toots and the Maytals. His gospel-inflected voice and songwriting defined the group’s sound.
Do the Reggay: “Do the Reggay” is a 1968 song by Toots and the Maytals. Its title helped popularize the word “reggae” for the emerging Jamaican style.
Ska: Ska is Jamaican popular music characterized by offbeat guitar or piano accents and a walking bass line. The Maytals began recording in the ska era, adapting its brisk rhythms to vocal-group songs.
Kingston: Kingston is the capital of Jamaica and a major center of Caribbean music and culture. The group formed and developed its career within Kingston’s close-knit music scene.
Reggae revival: The reggae revival is a renewed international interest in reggae and roots reggae, especially from the late 1970s onward. The group’s continued performances and recordings kept its classic style active for new audiences.
Raleigh Gordon: Raleigh Gordon was a Jamaican singer and an original member of the Maytals vocal group. He formed the group’s early vocal blend alongside Hibbert and Jerry Matthias.
Pressure Drop: “Pressure Drop” is a 1969 song by Toots and the Maytals. Its urgent rhythm and vocal delivery became among the group’s best-known signatures.
Rocksteady: Rocksteady is a Jamaican popular music style that followed ska, with slower tempos and prominent bass lines. The group’s recordings helped define the shift from ska’s pace to rocksteady’s heavier groove.
Beverley's Records: Beverley's Records was a Jamaican record label founded by producer Leslie Kong. Kong’s label released many of the group’s defining recordings.
Bob Marley: Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer and songwriter who brought reggae to a worldwide audience. Marley and the Maytals became leading, distinct ambassadors of Jamaican popular music.

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Island RecordsRelated: Their Island releases helped carry Jamaican music into overseas markets.