10 Musicians Who Died In 2020
8. Toots Hibbert
While many contributed to the growth of reggae as a genre, only Toots Hibbert can claim to have named it, with 1968 track “Do the Reggay” widely regarded as the first recorded use of the term.
As a founding member of Toots & The Maytals, Hibbert was a giant of the genre. The band swiftly gained significant popularity, with brilliantly crafted songs that tackled serious themes, like “54-46 That's My Number”, one of their signature hits which dealt with Hibbert’s draconian 18 month prison sentence for marijuana possession.
Hibbert remained a constant in his namesake band which continued to record and tour throughout his life. They released their final album in 2020 after a significant hiatus following an incident in which Hibbert was struck by a glass bottle while performing.
The band holds the record for the most #1 singles in Jamaica (31), and will be remembered as one of the most iconic and influential contributors to the form. Hibbert died at age 77, with many sources reporting COVID-19 as the underlying cause.