At my age, it seems like the news is a constant parade of deaths of artists I admired. Some, however, are especially worth noting. Reggae singer Toots (of "Toots and the Maytals") is one of them; he just died at 77.
Toots (Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert) is one of my top three reggae performers (with Bob Marley and Burning Spear). His "Funky Kingston" album (1972) is a gem. Rolling Stone called Toot's band "The Beatles of reggae" and include this album as one of "The Greatest 500 Albums Of All Time."
I was introduced to Toots like most Americans through his performance of "Pressure Drop" in the 1972 movie "The Harder They Come." A cult-classic, "The Harder They Come" is a lousy film with amazing music. In the early Seventies, it exposed viewers outside Jamaica to the vibrant reggae scene growing there.
Toot's music lives on. Check out "Pressure Drop," "Funky Kingston" and his other work.
We love Toots and the Maytals, it was so sad to hear of Toot's passing over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteA true Reggae legend! xxx
ReplyDeleteAnd he came up with the word "reggae"!
DeleteOooh, really??? Am going to squirrel away that fact!
DeleteI was so incredibly saddened to hear of his passing this week 😢 his music brings up so many great memories with friends throughout the years...he always put on a great show.
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