| The prominence of Rocksteady in Jamaican popular | | | | A shift in musical theme was taking place and Toots |
| culture was ignited in an instant and extinguished just | | | | and the Maytals was at the forefront. Musicians were |
| as quickly. It provided a smooth transition from the | | | | slowing becoming more and more influenced by the |
| popularity of high energy Ska to the rise of the political | | | | protest songs, written about the Civil Rights Movement |
| and spiritual sound of Roots Reggae. In the late 60's, | | | | and the Vietnam War, that were becoming popular in |
| when the Rocksteady beat was at its height, events in | | | | the US and Britain. Also, outspoken criticism of the |
| Jamaica and throughout the world gave Jamaican | | | | establishment was becoming more widely accepted |
| musicians new influences and subjects to use as a | | | | by Jamaican youth. This feeling of concern was being |
| basis for their music. The rise of Rastafarianism as | | | | voiced in the new music created in the ghettos and |
| Jamaica's main religion and the social protest music | | | | slums of Jamaica's inner city. |
| coming from the United States and Britain changed the | | | | The next single released by Toots and the Maytals |
| way artists would approach their music. Using their | | | | was the song that actually created the name for the |
| music as an outlet for many frustrations that have | | | | entire genre and changed the perception of the music |
| been arising in the people would change the Jamaican | | | | forever. "Do the Reggay", a song dedicated to a new |
| music culture forever. Many of the bands at the time | | | | type of dance that was sweeping Jamaican dance |
| did not survive the shift in the popularity of musical | | | | halls and slowing pushing Rocksteady out of the way. |
| style but one band that was able to thrive throughout | | | | Not only was the dance style in Jamaica changing, the |
| the many shifts in the popularity of Jamaican popular | | | | style of music was also slowing moving from the |
| music is Toots and the Maytals. Frederick "Toots" | | | | medium paced, laid back style of Rocksteady to a |
| Hibbert, the lead vocalist for this legendary band, was | | | | slower beat with the electric bass taking the forefront. |
| able to touch people all over the world with his | | | | A new regular two chord guitar pattern was used |
| energetic and soulful voice. Singing about everything | | | | along with the new bass rhythms. |
| from the greatness of being in love to protesting a | | | | The increase of acceptance of Rastafarianism also |
| false arrest that led to his 12-month imprisonment, he | | | | provided a new theme for many artists. At one point, |
| has touched audiences worldwide throughout his 40 | | | | the mention of Jah Ras Tafari in a single was seen as |
| year musical career. | | | | a radical act. The Toots and the Maytals' single, "Sun, |
| In the late 50's to early 60's, The Maytals, as they | | | | Moon and Star", was written after the Emperor Haile |
| were called, recorded many hit singles which were | | | | Selassie the First visited the island of Jamaica. This |
| mainly geared toward a religious theme. The band | | | | was a historic visit for all Rastafari. Toots, a devout |
| was highly influenced by gospel music and the three | | | | Rastafarian, wrote this song in tribute to his visit and |
| part harmony they used gave them an old-time | | | | provided one of the very first mentions of Ras Tafari |
| religious feel set to high energy Ska rhythms. Classic | | | | in a Jamaican single. |
| tracks such as "6 & 7 Books of Moses", "Neither | | | | During the next several years, Toots and the Maytals |
| Silver or Gold", and "Broadway Jungle" were recorded | | | | continued to have a huge impact on Jamaican music. |
| during this period. Even this early in their career, the | | | | Internationally, they would soon get large recognition |
| Maytals had already warranted one of the sincerest | | | | due to their contribution to the soundtrack of the |
| forms of flattery in the form of imitation. Artists such | | | | Jimmy Cliff movie, "The Harder they Come". The two |
| as Priest Herman Davis and the Pioneers were | | | | singles included in this soundtrack gave Toots and the |
| mimicking their sound and making hits. This was merely | | | | Maytals international recognition and also boosted the |
| foreshadowing the influence they would eventually | | | | awareness of Reggae music across the world. Soon |
| have on the entire genre. | | | | here after, Bob Marley's arrival on the international |
| As the Maytals were growing musically, Hopeton | | | | scene would make Reggae music a household name |
| Lewis and Alton Ellis were creating a new, slower | | | | but would also trump the international success of |
| style of music. With Jamaica's new found | | | | Toots and the Maytals. |
| independence, many American R&B records | | | | With a world focused on Marley's heart wrenched |
| were being imported into the country. The slower and | | | | vocals and lyrics focused on the social injustice his |
| smoother sound of American R&B and Soul | | | | fellow Jamaicans and Rasta have endured, the |
| bands were influencing the way Jamaican musicians | | | | international popularity of Toots and the Maytals was |
| approached their music. Also, many of the people that | | | | stunted and never fully bloomed. Even after several |
| frequented the Jamaican dancehalls were growing | | | | more highly successful albums, the band would |
| weary of the fast paced style of the Ska era, many | | | | eventually break up. Though Toots continued to make |
| of the clamoring for a break in the energy and craving | | | | music as a solo artist, some of which is highly |
| a slower type of rhythm that did not require as much | | | | experimental and crosses the lines of many genres of |
| energy to dance to. | | | | music, his career had hit its musical crest and the |
| This is what created the birth of the Rocksteady beat. | | | | wave was slowly rolling back. |
| A medium toned music that focused on more relaxed | | | | It is not until recently, some 40 years after the |
| dancing was starting to make waves. In 1966 Alton | | | | beginning of the legendary Toots and the Maytals that |
| Ellis' single "Rocksteady" is the first time the term was | | | | their influence and legend is truly beginning to get |
| used in a Jamaican single. This single was not the | | | | recognized. Many bands such as The Clash, Sublime, |
| innovator of the sound; it was merely a song about the | | | | and No Doubt pay tribute to Toots by covering many |
| trend that was starting. The musical style was shifting | | | | of the old Reggae hits. The popularity of Reggae |
| and it was at this point that Toots would take an | | | | continues to rise in the United States and can be heard |
| unplanned and unwanted leave from the musical | | | | in the new form of Punk influence Ska music being |
| scene. | | | | recorded today. |
| In 1966, on their way to a show in Ochos Rios, Toots | | | | In 2004, Toots released an album by the name of |
| was pulled over by the police and arrested for | | | | "True Love". This album featured him performing with |
| possession of marijuana which he didn't have. Toots | | | | many of American Rock's most legendary musicians. |
| says in a 2004 interview with Relix Magazine, "They | | | | Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt are just a |
| jailed me for something I didn't have. People that I | | | | few of the artists he collaborated with to remake |
| know told me that they were forced to do it, just to | | | | many of the songs that made him a star. This album |
| keep me back a little in my career." The 12 months | | | | also features a remake of "Never Grow Old" in which |
| spent incarcerated gave him a chance to pen one of | | | | it unites him with Ska legends the Skatalites. |
| the most influential and recognizable songs in the | | | | Toots also continues to tour with a rehashed form of |
| history of Reggae music, "54-47 Was My Number". | | | | the Maytals. Igniting the stage with his fierce vocals |
| "54-46 Was my Number" is the first protest song | | | | and stage presence, he continues to show the world |
| recorded by Toots and the Maytals. In this song he | | | | why he is among one of the greatest reggae |
| vehemently proclaims his innocents, I'm not a fool to | | | | performers of all time. With a new generation of |
| hurt myself/So I was innocent of what they done to | | | | Reggae fans attending his show, his influence on music |
| me/They was wrong/Listen to me, they were wrong. | | | | will continue to be seen for many years. |
| This was the first Jamaican song to be played outside | | | | Through all the major shifts in Jamaican popular music, |
| of Jamaica and has been an influence to many bands | | | | Toots and the Maytals were able to maintain their |
| after its release. This protest song was a big influence | | | | status as one of the elite bands of every era. Through |
| to Jamaican bands that felt that the authorities, at the | | | | the shift from Ska music to Rocksteady to Roots, |
| time, were doing the average man wrong. They | | | | they always provided a high level of excellence that |
| realized they can voice their opposition to social | | | | truly influenced the shifts in the genres. Even today, |
| injustice and that their music is the medium for doing | | | | Toots' influence is still being heard throughout many |
| so. | | | | different types of music. |
| A pattern of protest and spiritual music soon followed. | | | | |