How a Jamaican vocal trio defined the sound and name of reggae music

Music · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 1962, Toots and the Maytals were instrumental in shaping reggae’s global identity. Fronted by the exuberant Toots Hibbert, the group moved from ska to a new, pumping sound that gave the genre its name. Their legacy remains etched in music history, bridging Jamaican roots with international stardom.

Toots and the Maytals began as a vocal trio in 1962, featuring Frederick “Toots” Hibbert alongside Nathaniel “Jerry” Matthias and Henry “Raleigh” Gordon. Initially a ska group, their trajectory shifted in 1968 when they collaborated with producer Leslie Kong. This partnership produced “54-46 (That’s My Number),” a track inspired by Hibbert’s prison term for a marijuana charge. The song is widely regarded as one of the most significant early reggae recordings, establishing the group’s international presence.

The group is credited with coining the term “reggae” through their 1968 single “Do the Reggay.” Unlike their contemporaries, such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Maytals were known for an upbeat, apolitical style characterized by Hibbert’s hearty vocals, which critics often compared to Otis Redding. Their influence expanded significantly in 1972, when their songs “Sweet and Dandy” and “Pressure Drop” were featured in the landmark film The Harder They Come, introducing their sound to American audiences.

The band’s structure evolved over time. By 1972, the name “Toots and the Maytals” officially distinguished Hibbert from the instrumentalists and backing vocalists who made up the Maytals band. Despite Hibbert’s brief solo career in the 1980s, he reformed the group in the 1990s. Their 2004 album True Love, featuring collaborations with artists like Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt, earned a Grammy Award, cementing their status as legends who helped define reggae as a global musical genre.

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