Music: Jeff Hemmings

Toots & The Maytals

Perhaps the greatest of all Jamaican bands, Toots & The Maytals have been going for over half a century.

Led by the charismatic ‘Toots’ Hibbert, The Maytals formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1961. ‘Toots’ popularised the reggae sound with hits such as ‘Do The Reggay’, widely acknowledged as the first song ever to feature the word ‘Reggae’. Further future classics such as ‘Pressure Drop’, ‘54-46 (That’s My Number)’, ‘Sweet and Dand’, ‘Monkey Man’, ‘Funky Kingston’ and ‘Reggae Got Soul’ cemented the band’s reputation as one of the best ska and reggae acts around.

Toots and The Maytals won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Reggae album with True Love

A five time Grammy nominee, Toots & The Maytals won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Reggae album with True Love. The album featured re-recorded classic hits alongside popular and legendary artists including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots and Shaggy.

Toots has been absent from the stage for almost three years after suffering a head injury caused by a drunk fan throwing a glass bottle during a festival performance in Richmond, Virginia in 2013. After intensive medical therapy, he was been cleared by his doctor to resume touring in 2016.

One of the best gigs of my life was seeing Toots & The Maytals perform (with a special guest appearance from Arthur Brown!) at Glastonbury when the sun was setting on a particularly glorious day. Then as now they remain the ultimate uplifting peace and good vibes band.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Friday 2 Sept, 7.30pm, £25.50