Reggae legend Toots Hibbert passed away on Sept. 11, after being in the ICU due to COVID-like symptoms. In his honor, artists such as Ziggy Marley, Mick Jagger, Warren Haynes and Trey Anastasio shared memories of the late reggae pioneer.

“The Legendary Toots Hibbert has passed,” Marley wrote via Twitter on Sept 12. “I spoke w/him a few wks [sic] ago told him how much i loved him we laughed & shared our mutual respect. He was a father figure to me his spirit is w/us his music fills us w/his energy i will never forget him.”

Haynes, who recorded and performed with Hibbert many times, shared a lengthy note on Hibbert’s death. “‘Toots’ was, in my opinion, the greatest Jamaican soul singer,” he wrote. “I say that not to downplay his immense role in the creation of Reggae music- he coined the term Reggae- but to point out that as a singer his voice stands among the giants like Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke etc. which is not to say that the other Reggae giants weren’t great soul singers in their own rites as well, but Toots was the ‘real fucking deal.’”

“I’m gonna miss Toots but the world of music is gonna miss him even more,” Haynes concluded. “As I stated earlier, we have lost another giant.” Read his full note below.

Trey Anastasio also shared a statement on Hibbert’s passing. “I was so sad to wake up this morning and hear about the passing of Toots Hibbert,” he wrote. “Like so many people, I’ve loved his music my entire life. It was ubiquitous, playing at parties and gatherings. It felt like an element, like air.” He went on to share a story about Toots & The Maytals recording at The Barn studio. Read his full statement below.

Mick Jagger shared some words in response to Hibberts passing, noting how hearing “Pressure Drop” was “a big moment.” “So sad to hear of Toots Hibbert’s passing,” he wrote. “When I first heard “Pressure Drop,” that was a big moment – he had such a powerful voice and on stage he always gave the audience his total energy. A sad loss to the music world.” Read his post below.

So sad to hear of Toots Hibbert’s passing. When I first heard Pressure Drop that was a big moment – he had such a…

Posted by Mick Jagger on Saturday, September 12, 2020

Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert “Toots” was, in my opinion, the greatest Jamaican soul singer. I say that not to…

Posted by Warren Haynes on Saturday, September 12, 2020
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I was so sad to wake up this morning and hear about the passing of Toots Hibbert. Like so many people, I’ve loved his music my entire life. It was ubiquitous, playing at parties and gatherings. It felt like an element, like air. In 2003, I was asked to play on Toot’s new album, True Love. I was told that the Maytals were coming to the Barn to record. When Toots and the band arrived for the session, I was nervous and basically speechless. Toots was a ray of light, so kind and welcoming. The guys in the band hovered in the corner, smoking more ganja than I had ever seen consumed. We decided to play Sweet and Dandy. I was a bit mortified and confused as to why such an iconic song should be re-released, but we recorded it, and it was was a thrill. What happened next I will never forget for as long as I live. Toots was supposed to do a song with Willie Nelson, but Willie was not there of course. Toots began searching, playing different Willie songs deafeningly loud through the giant speakers in the barn, while a bunch of us stood next to him by the soundboard. He said that he had to believe every single word in order to sing a song, a lesson I’ll never forget. He heard “Still is Still Moving to Me” and liked the song, and then as I stood watching, he and the Maytals recorded that track, live in the barn. Willie added his vocal after the fact. As long as I live, I will never forget watching it all go down. On playback, the engineer turned the bass ALL the way up. I don’t even know how to describe how booming it was. The bass knob was pinned to the right and the speakers were on 10. I’ve never heard bass that loud in my life. The barn was literally shaking. My guts were shaking. It was incredible. Toots sang his vocal, moving and dancing with his body, embodying every single syllable, like an open tube to the cosmos. Thank you Toots for a lifetime of joy and blessings. Rest In Peace. 📷: @david.corio

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