Toots Hibbert

Toots Hibbert Originally it had no particular meaning, it was an accident, my tongue slipped, a gimmick... I became the creator and the first user of the term. People called reggae Blue Beat or Boogie Beat, they didn't know what to call it. It was great musicians in Jamaica who came up with this rhythm, but nobody ever asked who was the first to play the guitar; they came up with this rhythm but it had no name, so I was the one who presented this rhythm to the world, I am the inventor of the word.

Toots Hibbert It's a long story. Certain people tried to stop my career. At that time, I was the first artist to whom Chris Blackwell gave a recording contract. It included an album and a world tour, but some artists decided otherwise. So when they tried to scare me by hiding weed at my place, I went to take refuge in a soldiers' camp, in the parish of St Mary, where nobody could find me. But I still had my guitar, my clothes, something to eat... I found myself confined. I was a victim of hypocrisy, of the bad spirit of some people, and of politics in music. 54-46 was my composition, I could have said 54-48 or 48-48, or even 33-33... Everybody thinks I went to prison and that it was my prisoner number, I give them the benefit of the doubt, that way they believe what they want to believe. Now you know the truth. When I came back from the soldiers' camp, people were wild and asked me loads of questions about my confinement. That's why I wrote this song (he starts singing): "i was innocent on what they have done to me, they were wrong... I'm not afford to hurt myself". This song tells it all.

Toots Hibbert When I write a song, I need to compose the music carefully. I did it with a lot of great musicians, but at that time they were all on tour, so I had to do it myself. I've kept that habit for all my songs: I am the writer, the composer and the arranger of my own music, I produce myself and I still do.

Toots Hibbert It's a historic album that I made so that people would realise that reggae could have a soul, that it is dynamic and international, that it's good music! To show them that this music can slip into any area of hip-hop or rock 'n' roll, into any kind of music that reggae can blend with... If you do it the right way! I've always made music as well as I could, written my lyrics the right way with all my knowledge, without singing idiocies...

Toots Hibbert I never hoped to get one, and when I got it I wasn't particularly excited, I deserve much better than that. It's a good thing when they give you one, but I don't feel particularly proud about it. I feel better with the rewards from Jah.

Toots Hibbert Otis Redding, Ray Charles... But I also pay tribute to Willie Nelson, Bootsy Collins. They represent themselves because they make very good music, and I represent myself to let them know I'm not bad either (laughs). Their music has never stopped inspiring me, and I still love them today.

Toots Hibbert Premature was about girls of 12 to 14 who don't know how to wash their clothes, or even cook, but who are already trying to have babies... They haven't been taught the right things, nobody tells them what to do and what not to do. They shouldn't be watching pornographic films, what we used to call street corner shows. They shouldn't see that kind of film, because we didn't watch that when I was a kid. Today it's different! In this song, I tell them that a child shouldn't give birth to another child, it's spiritual, it's the word of God, it's written in the Bible. This track revolves around that theme.

Toots Hibbert I never look back, I always look ahead!

Toots Hibbert They follow in our footsteps, those of Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and all those great singers who are gone. Young people must follow their elders. If they respect our roots, they can't be on the wrong path. I'm talking about dancehall too: the kings and queens of dancehall must follow the road laid down by U-Roy, Yellowman, Super Cat... Young people must respect our work.

Toots Hibbert I hadn't looked at the problem from that angle, but now that you mention it... It's not a message to be taken at face value, it's musical. Some people don't find the right words when they write, whereas I'm lucky enough to find them easily. You have to be positive to make all those words ring in a song. Sooner or later, even if they're negative, they'll end up becoming positive.

Toots Hibbert Yes, I do that kind of thing, I've never stopped, to tell the truth, but it's not out yet. I've just recorded a track with Anthony B, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Capleton... Veterans like Marcia Griffiths or Ken Boothe... And plenty of others, they're all friends. One day, this project will be finished.

Toots Hibbert My main project is to look after my foundation, the Toots Hibbert Foundation, to help young people on the street, help them find a purpose in their lives, give them a good education. I won't stop until I've accomplished my mission, but I need funding. You know, when I started singing, I wasn't earning any money. It takes me time to earn my own money and raise what I need to help young people. I'm already doing it today but I want to do it in the best way possible, to help them even more... I need the help and donations of Jamaicans, of the government and of people around the world; visit tootsandthemaytals.com or tootsandthemaytals.net and you'll find all the information about my foundation.

Toots Hibbert On several albums at the same time, I never stop... This one doesn't have a name yet but it should come out in Jamaica in December 2008, I think I'll call it "Do the Reggae" because it's a generic name. I'm thinking of reworking some of my old hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s and modernising them so that young people know my big tunes and dance to them. You know, every day children are born and old people die; those who leave know me, but not those who arrive. I have to let them know that Toots and the Maytals invented the word reggae and that we had the most number ones in Jamaica from the 60s to the 80s... 31 "number ones" in all!