September 11, 2025 • 19 mins
Today is the 5th anniversary of the passing of Reggae legend, Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, O.D., O.J., the lead singer of Toots and the Maytals. So this week, we are celebrating his life, and honouring his legacy, as well as the legacy of Toots & the Maytals.
From his humble beginnings in May Pen, Jamaica, to coining the word “Reggae” and leading one of the most influential bands in music history, Toots’ story is one of resilience, joy, storytelling, and profound connection with his fans. This episode explores the irreplaceable contributions of the original Maytals band members, the universal lessons within Toots and the Maytals songs like "54-46 (That’s My Number)" and "Never Get Weary", and the genius Toots’ storytelling that made their songs both timeless and personal.
We recognize the global recognition the Maytals and Toots Hibbert received; from Grammy Awards to Rolling Stone naming Toots among the greatest singers of ALL TIME, and his lasting influence on artistes from Elton John to Gwen Stefani, Paul McCartney to Amy Winehouse; Keith Richards to Sean Paul, Mick Jagger to Ziggy Marley, and several other well-known and respected musicians.
Did you know? Although Sister Nancy's 1982 version of "Bam Bam" is popularized, the original "Bam Bam" was written by Toots Hibbert and performed by Toots & the Maytals and Byron Lee & the Dragoniers, in 1966? The catchy phrase, "Bam Bam" led to its longevity that became widely popular and was later incorporated into the resurging Dancehall genre in the 80s, when Dancehall vocalists (or deejays) reference the popular phrase.
This special episode celebrates the beautiful spirit, powerful voice, and incredible storytelling Toots Hibbert gave to the world, and invites you to keep his legacy alive by continuing to listen to Toots & the Maytals music, continuing to spread positivity and love in his honour; and to never get weary.
So grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine, and let’s talk di tings!
.
.
.
If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a 5-star rating, share this episode, and follow Let’s Talk Di Tings on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Listen to LTDT on: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6akOR9kAnsbANiszBDcVOL?si=aa70627937124c3eAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-di-tings/id1662696625
From his humble beginnings in May Pen, Jamaica, to coining the word “Reggae” and leading one of the most influential bands in music history, Toots’ story is one of resilience, joy, storytelling, and profound connection with his fans. This episode explores the irreplaceable contributions of the original Maytals band members, the universal lessons within Toots and the Maytals songs like "54-46 (That’s My Number)" and "Never Get Weary", and the genius Toots’ storytelling that made their songs both timeless and personal.
We recognize the global recognition the Maytals and Toots Hibbert received; from Grammy Awards to Rolling Stone naming Toots among the greatest singers of ALL TIME, and his lasting influence on artistes from Elton John to Gwen Stefani, Paul McCartney to Amy Winehouse; Keith Richards to Sean Paul, Mick Jagger to Ziggy Marley, and several other well-known and respected musicians.
Did you know? Although Sister Nancy's 1982 version of "Bam Bam" is popularized, the original "Bam Bam" was written by Toots Hibbert and performed by Toots & the Maytals and Byron Lee & the Dragoniers, in 1966? The catchy phrase, "Bam Bam" led to its longevity that became widely popular and was later incorporated into the resurging Dancehall genre in the 80s, when Dancehall vocalists (or deejays) reference the popular phrase.
This special episode celebrates the beautiful spirit, powerful voice, and incredible storytelling Toots Hibbert gave to the world, and invites you to keep his legacy alive by continuing to listen to Toots & the Maytals music, continuing to spread positivity and love in his honour; and to never get weary.
So grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine, and let’s talk di tings!
.
.
.
If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a 5-star rating, share this episode, and follow Let’s Talk Di Tings on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Listen to LTDT on: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6akOR9kAnsbANiszBDcVOL?si=aa70627937124c3eAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-di-tings/id1662696625
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stick it up. Missa here want to say si, no, no, no,
no no, get your handan e Essa, honey, you will
(00:20):
get no hurt. Mister no no no a sidy what
they say. If you're listening to the podcast on Apple Podcast,
please remember to rate and leave a comment below. Also,
don't forget to follow us on Instagram at Let's Talk
(00:43):
to Tinks. Now, grab your tea, coffee or a glass
of wine and let's talk to Tings. Hello everyone, welcome
back to Let's Talk to Tings, where we discuss personal growth, trap, music,
beauty and wellness while encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously.
(01:08):
I'm your host, Ash and this week we are commemorating
the anniversary of the passing of my uncle Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert,
or as the world knew him, Tutz Hibbert, the extraordinary
voice and spirit and the lead singer of Tuts and
(01:29):
the Metals. Uncle Tutz was born on December eighth, nineteen
forty two, in maypen Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest
of his siblings, the son of Seventh day Adventist preacher parents,
so church hymns and gospel singing. Those were part of
(01:52):
his earliest experience with music. Now, unfortunately both of his
parents passed when he was very young, so at a
very young age he moved from Maypen to trench Town
with its older brother. And it was in Kingston that
he met Raleigh Gordon and Nathaniel Jerry Matthias and together
(02:15):
they formed what became The Metals. So originally it was
a trio singing group. Over time the band expanded, bringing
musicians like drummer Paul Douglas, guitarist Hawks Brown, bassist Jackie Jackson,
guitarist Radcliffe, Doogie Bryan and others to create a sound
(02:38):
for Tutsand and Metals. And the Metals then became the
actual band collectively. And these instrumentalists or musicians were absolutely
essential to the sound of Tutsand and Metals. They were
not a backing band by any means. The groove, the
rhythm section, tightness, the guitar, the bass, the drums, these
(03:04):
are elements that defined the sound that you know of
Tutz and the Metals. And Uncle Tutz always said, and
he said it actually specifically in an interview that he
may have given reggae its name, but when asked about
where the sound originated of the music. He was always
(03:25):
adamant of crediting the musicians. In his exact words, I
created the name, but the sound it comes from the musicians.
And so to me, that's a very clear indication that, yes,
imitation is possible, but replication is not. There's something unique
(03:45):
about their interplay, their timing, their warmth. That magic can
be copied in outline, but in soul it cannot and
will never be replicated. In nineteen sixty eight, tutsand the
Metals recorded Do the Reggae, which is widely accredited as
(04:09):
the first use of the term reggae to name the genre.
One of his most powerful songs is fifty four forty six.
That's my number, and it's been sampled so many times
you've probably heard it and not even aware, and are
not even aware. It was sampled by Foxy Brown, it
(04:30):
was sampled by Pitbull, so many other artists of our generation.
And on its surface, it's autobiographical. You know, the number
refers to his experience being jailed unlawfully, and it really
reflects on a moment of injustice that he really sang
his way through. But in addition to that, or I
(04:51):
should say, you know, more significantly, the lyrics a firm resilience.
You see, Uncle Tutz just didn't allow that incident to
define him. He allowed it to fuel his voice. And
I think that's a life lesson for all of us.
You know, we all face unjust circumstances at some point
(05:13):
in our life, and sometimes imprisonment in metaphor or in reality. Right,
you can be imprisoned in your mind or in the physical.
So while we may not have all faced literal imprisonment
like he did, you can be imprisoned in your mind
in that you have a way, a certain way of thinking,
(05:33):
or you're telling yourself you can't do something, and so
you stay stagnant. Right, But the song is really telling
us that your voice, your integrity, those things are important,
and those things can endure and we can emerge, not
defeated by going through those things or getting through those things,
(05:53):
but stronger if we just choose to keep going. Another
one of my favorite songs of him is never Get Weary,
And in this song, Uncle Tut's, you know, his lyrics
basically would resonate with anyone who is tired, frustrated, worn
down and just feels like giving up. You know, I
(06:15):
think these lyrics remind us that that hope is not
just wishful thinking. It can be carried forward by faith, perseverance,
and love. And lyrics like I was zone in the
valley for a very long time and I'll never get
weird remind us that the struggle, the slow climb, it matters, right.
(06:39):
It's an important part of the process of life. That
every act of kindness, every note of music, every moment
of honesty is worth it, even when it feels small
or it feels like it's not making a difference. The
lyrics really remind us that life is filled with tray,
(07:00):
but if we maintain faith, determination, and a positive outlook,
we will endure. You know, it's a lesson that transcends
reggae music. It's a reminder that perseverance and love can
guide us through all of life's challenges. The music of
(07:22):
Tuts and the Metals resonated because it was real. You see,
Uncle Hoots didn't just perform for fans. He loved them.
He knew their stories, share their struggles, and celebrated their joys.
Whether on stage or in interviews, he spoke directly to
people's hearts, making them feel seen and heard. He had
(07:47):
this uncanny ability to make every performance feel intimate, even
in a stadium of thousands, which to me is just
just an incredible, incredible, incredible gift. Storytelling in general was
central to who Uncle Tutz was. He could take a
(08:09):
simple idea, maybe the number he was given in jail,
fifty four forty six, a phrase like do the reggae,
and spin it into this rich narrative about injustice, identity,
and passion. You know, I remember him telling me about
writing fifty four forty six, and he said that he thought,
(08:30):
I'll turn the number into something people sing, and they did.
That tells you the power of the tongue and intention
is real. He believed that music was a bridge his life,
his fans life. It was connected by melody, by rhythm.
He was never distant when on big stages. He made
(08:54):
you feel like his song was just for you. One
of my favorite memories was being at a concert where
it rained heavily, but Uncle Tutz looked out into the crowd,
grinned and said, you see this. The rain can fall,
but the music must play, and he continued to sing,
(09:18):
and everyone stayed out in the rain, And that moment
taught me about joy. About perseverance, about how music can
hold together even when the skies open up. Over decades,
Uncle Tutz earned many honors. He and the Metals won
(09:40):
multiple Grammy Awards. For example, their album True Love won
the Grammy for Best Reggae Album in two thousand and five.
Got to Be Tough also won a Grammy for Best
Reggae Album in twenty twenty one, a year after he
passed away, and they had other nominations as well, Tut's
(10:01):
Live in nineteen eighty one, Tuts in Memphis in nineteen
eighty nine, Scafather in nineteen ninety eight, Reggae Got Soul Unplugged,
and Reggae Got Soul Unplugged on Strawberry Hill in twenty thirteen.
Also in Jamaica, he was awarded the Order of Jamaica
in twenty twelve, which, for those that don't know that
(10:24):
is one of Jamaica's highest honors that recognized his contributions
to national culture. Rolling Stone also honored him and ranked
him in their one hundred Greatest Singers of All Time
All Time. You know that is on a list with
Otis Reading, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, all singers
(10:52):
from all genres Great Singers. He was ranked on that list,
which I think is such an honor and is really
indicative of how powerful his voice was. And in twenty
twenty three, a newer version of that list in their
two hundred Greatest Singers of All Time, he was on
(11:14):
that list, and this time there were multiple reggae legends
on that list as well, including Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Barrington,
Levy Luciano, and of course Uncle Tutz himself. And to me,
the recognition is more than prestige, right Like I said,
It shows how deep his vocal power, his style, his
(11:36):
influence have resonated globally. It also confirms what many of
us who knew his music and who knew him personally
have always felt that Tutz Hibbert stood among the greatest
in singing, in soul, and in just who he was
as a human being. One example that I think a
(12:02):
lot of persons aren't familiar with of Uncle SUT's influence
across generations has to do with his song Monkey Man. Now,
it's not one of his mainstream songs, I would say,
but it is a well known song and he wrote
it in nineteen sixty nine. And it became one of
(12:22):
really their iconic songs, especially to play on tour, and
the song has been covered many times by the Specials.
No Doubt re recorded a version, and it was also
covered and re recorded by Amy Winehouse. Amy Winehouse included
Monkey Man as one of her frequent covers in live shows.
(12:42):
She recorded it around the time of Back to Black,
which is a very well known album of hers, and
released on and released it on a deluxe version and
as a B side to You Know I'm No Good.
Her version, Really it stayed faithful to the earth original. However,
in her true fashion, it was shaped by her style,
(13:04):
which I think is brilliant. And the fact that an
artist of her stature, from a different generation and a
different country could connect so deeply with that song, to
me is a testament of the reach of Tut's animatals.
It's a testament to the power of the lyrics that
Uncle Tutz wrote that it could touch anyone. You know,
(13:27):
It's more than admiration. It's proof that the songs he
wrote resonate far beyond time and place. I often think
about Uncle Tut's philosophy that music is not just entertainment,
(13:48):
it's storytelling, a vehicle for connection and a way to
uplift the human spirit. He taught me that life, much
like reggae, is a blend of rhythm and improvisation, structure
and spontaneity. Uncle Tutz passed away on September eleventh, twenty twenty,
(14:12):
in Kingston, Jamaica, at age seventy seven. His passing was
met with grief around the world, and tributes came from
his bandmates, other musicians, public figures, and fans all around
the world. I remember I couldn't turn on the TV
(14:37):
because it was all over the news, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News,
it was everywhere. I think that is a day I'll
never forget, because even on my computer, I couldn't go
on my computer. It was everywhere. And although I've known
him and been around him my whole life, I think
(15:01):
that was the day that I realized, you know, what
an impact he's had, to the point where you know,
every news outlet is reporting it in such a way,
and it really showed what a loss it was to
not only just the entertainment or the music industry, but
(15:21):
to the world. Paul McCartney called him one of the
finest singers of our generation. Elton John praised how Uncle
Tutz would bring people together through joyous music. The music Press,
fellow reggae artist all spoke of loss, but also immense gratitude.
(15:46):
As someone that has known him my whole life. I
carry my lifelong memories sitting backstage watching him, watching the band.
I remember his voice all the time. I saw how
(16:06):
much it meant to him that his songs were sung
by people far beyond our community in Europe, in Japan,
in Africa. It really gave him joy to know that
his music was not just heard, but it was appreciated
(16:29):
and it resonated with so many different persons from different backgrounds.
Thank you for tuning in. I know this is not
our usual episode, but being that it is five years today,
which I still cannot believe, I really wanted to do
(16:53):
something to honor Uncle Tut's and to honor the Metals,
and to just give you a glimpse. I encourage you
to do your own research, but just to give you
a little glimpse into the impact that Uncle Tutz and
the Metals have had in music and in this world.
You cannot erase history, you cannot erase impact, and it's
(17:23):
not just about awards or accolades, but again, it's about
who he was as a human being, the storyteller, the
lover of his fans, the carrier of hope. And as
long as we continue to share the music to speak
(17:46):
about the lessons that his songs taught us, resilience, joy, love,
his legacy will always live. So I will continue to
keep telling these stories and preserving the stories and ensuring
new errors discover the music, the metals, the melody, and
(18:11):
all the songs that carry who he was as a person.
So I encourage you to go on Apple Music or
Spotify wherever you stream music, and listen to tutsanda metals,
Listen to those lyrics, listen to those melodies. If you
can find, you know, go on YouTube, find their live
(18:33):
shows and you'll see what I'm talking about. You'll hear,
you know, the drums, the bass, the guitar. You know,
the guitar solo of Uncle Carl Harvey, one of the
greatest guitarists of all time. You cannot replicate that, you know.
(18:54):
So I think it's so amazing that we have things
like you too, that we can see old videos and
see them playing together, you know, because unfortunately We're never
gonna see that again. So yeah, I encourage you to
use this day, or this week, or whenever you hear
this episode to do your research and listen to the music.
(19:20):
As Uncle Tutz would say, listen to them Bead Movie,
Dancyntheed Rock and Bundy Line right on time. You got so,
and I got so, everybody got so, got so much
(19:44):
so
Stick it up. Missa here want to say si, no, no, no,
no no, get your handan e Essa, honey, you will
(00:20):
get no hurt. Mister no no no a sidy what
they say. If you're listening to the podcast on Apple Podcast,
please remember to rate and leave a comment below. Also,
don't forget to follow us on Instagram at Let's Talk
(00:43):
to Tinks. Now, grab your tea, coffee or a glass
of wine and let's talk to Tings. Hello everyone, welcome
back to Let's Talk to Tings, where we discuss personal growth, trap, music,
beauty and wellness while encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously.
(01:08):
I'm your host, Ash and this week we are commemorating
the anniversary of the passing of my uncle Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert,
or as the world knew him, Tutz Hibbert, the extraordinary
voice and spirit and the lead singer of Tuts and
(01:29):
the Metals. Uncle Tutz was born on December eighth, nineteen
forty two, in maypen Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest
of his siblings, the son of Seventh day Adventist preacher parents,
so church hymns and gospel singing. Those were part of
(01:52):
his earliest experience with music. Now, unfortunately both of his
parents passed when he was very young, so at a
very young age he moved from Maypen to trench Town
with its older brother. And it was in Kingston that
he met Raleigh Gordon and Nathaniel Jerry Matthias and together
(02:15):
they formed what became The Metals. So originally it was
a trio singing group. Over time the band expanded, bringing
musicians like drummer Paul Douglas, guitarist Hawks Brown, bassist Jackie Jackson,
guitarist Radcliffe, Doogie Bryan and others to create a sound
(02:38):
for Tutsand and Metals. And the Metals then became the
actual band collectively. And these instrumentalists or musicians were absolutely
essential to the sound of Tutsand and Metals. They were
not a backing band by any means. The groove, the
rhythm section, tightness, the guitar, the bass, the drums, these
(03:04):
are elements that defined the sound that you know of
Tutz and the Metals. And Uncle Tutz always said, and
he said it actually specifically in an interview that he
may have given reggae its name, but when asked about
where the sound originated of the music. He was always
(03:25):
adamant of crediting the musicians. In his exact words, I
created the name, but the sound it comes from the musicians.
And so to me, that's a very clear indication that, yes,
imitation is possible, but replication is not. There's something unique
(03:45):
about their interplay, their timing, their warmth. That magic can
be copied in outline, but in soul it cannot and
will never be replicated. In nineteen sixty eight, tutsand the
Metals recorded Do the Reggae, which is widely accredited as
(04:09):
the first use of the term reggae to name the genre.
One of his most powerful songs is fifty four forty six.
That's my number, and it's been sampled so many times
you've probably heard it and not even aware, and are
not even aware. It was sampled by Foxy Brown, it
(04:30):
was sampled by Pitbull, so many other artists of our generation.
And on its surface, it's autobiographical. You know, the number
refers to his experience being jailed unlawfully, and it really
reflects on a moment of injustice that he really sang
his way through. But in addition to that, or I
(04:51):
should say, you know, more significantly, the lyrics a firm resilience.
You see, Uncle Tutz just didn't allow that incident to
define him. He allowed it to fuel his voice. And
I think that's a life lesson for all of us.
You know, we all face unjust circumstances at some point
(05:13):
in our life, and sometimes imprisonment in metaphor or in reality. Right,
you can be imprisoned in your mind or in the physical.
So while we may not have all faced literal imprisonment
like he did, you can be imprisoned in your mind
in that you have a way, a certain way of thinking,
(05:33):
or you're telling yourself you can't do something, and so
you stay stagnant. Right, But the song is really telling
us that your voice, your integrity, those things are important,
and those things can endure and we can emerge, not
defeated by going through those things or getting through those things,
(05:53):
but stronger if we just choose to keep going. Another
one of my favorite songs of him is never Get Weary,
And in this song, Uncle Tut's, you know, his lyrics
basically would resonate with anyone who is tired, frustrated, worn
down and just feels like giving up. You know, I
(06:15):
think these lyrics remind us that that hope is not
just wishful thinking. It can be carried forward by faith, perseverance,
and love. And lyrics like I was zone in the
valley for a very long time and I'll never get
weird remind us that the struggle, the slow climb, it matters, right.
(06:39):
It's an important part of the process of life. That
every act of kindness, every note of music, every moment
of honesty is worth it, even when it feels small
or it feels like it's not making a difference. The
lyrics really remind us that life is filled with tray,
(07:00):
but if we maintain faith, determination, and a positive outlook,
we will endure. You know, it's a lesson that transcends
reggae music. It's a reminder that perseverance and love can
guide us through all of life's challenges. The music of
(07:22):
Tuts and the Metals resonated because it was real. You see,
Uncle Hoots didn't just perform for fans. He loved them.
He knew their stories, share their struggles, and celebrated their joys.
Whether on stage or in interviews, he spoke directly to
people's hearts, making them feel seen and heard. He had
(07:47):
this uncanny ability to make every performance feel intimate, even
in a stadium of thousands, which to me is just
just an incredible, incredible, incredible gift. Storytelling in general was
central to who Uncle Tutz was. He could take a
(08:09):
simple idea, maybe the number he was given in jail,
fifty four forty six, a phrase like do the reggae,
and spin it into this rich narrative about injustice, identity,
and passion. You know, I remember him telling me about
writing fifty four forty six, and he said that he thought,
(08:30):
I'll turn the number into something people sing, and they did.
That tells you the power of the tongue and intention
is real. He believed that music was a bridge his life,
his fans life. It was connected by melody, by rhythm.
He was never distant when on big stages. He made
(08:54):
you feel like his song was just for you. One
of my favorite memories was being at a concert where
it rained heavily, but Uncle Tutz looked out into the crowd,
grinned and said, you see this. The rain can fall,
but the music must play, and he continued to sing,
(09:18):
and everyone stayed out in the rain, And that moment
taught me about joy. About perseverance, about how music can
hold together even when the skies open up. Over decades,
Uncle Tutz earned many honors. He and the Metals won
(09:40):
multiple Grammy Awards. For example, their album True Love won
the Grammy for Best Reggae Album in two thousand and five.
Got to Be Tough also won a Grammy for Best
Reggae Album in twenty twenty one, a year after he
passed away, and they had other nominations as well, Tut's
(10:01):
Live in nineteen eighty one, Tuts in Memphis in nineteen
eighty nine, Scafather in nineteen ninety eight, Reggae Got Soul Unplugged,
and Reggae Got Soul Unplugged on Strawberry Hill in twenty thirteen.
Also in Jamaica, he was awarded the Order of Jamaica
in twenty twelve, which, for those that don't know that
(10:24):
is one of Jamaica's highest honors that recognized his contributions
to national culture. Rolling Stone also honored him and ranked
him in their one hundred Greatest Singers of All Time
All Time. You know that is on a list with
Otis Reading, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, all singers
(10:52):
from all genres Great Singers. He was ranked on that list,
which I think is such an honor and is really
indicative of how powerful his voice was. And in twenty
twenty three, a newer version of that list in their
two hundred Greatest Singers of All Time, he was on
(11:14):
that list, and this time there were multiple reggae legends
on that list as well, including Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Barrington,
Levy Luciano, and of course Uncle Tutz himself. And to me,
the recognition is more than prestige, right Like I said,
It shows how deep his vocal power, his style, his
(11:36):
influence have resonated globally. It also confirms what many of
us who knew his music and who knew him personally
have always felt that Tutz Hibbert stood among the greatest
in singing, in soul, and in just who he was
as a human being. One example that I think a
(12:02):
lot of persons aren't familiar with of Uncle SUT's influence
across generations has to do with his song Monkey Man. Now,
it's not one of his mainstream songs, I would say,
but it is a well known song and he wrote
it in nineteen sixty nine. And it became one of
(12:22):
really their iconic songs, especially to play on tour, and
the song has been covered many times by the Specials.
No Doubt re recorded a version, and it was also
covered and re recorded by Amy Winehouse. Amy Winehouse included
Monkey Man as one of her frequent covers in live shows.
(12:42):
She recorded it around the time of Back to Black,
which is a very well known album of hers, and
released on and released it on a deluxe version and
as a B side to You Know I'm No Good.
Her version, Really it stayed faithful to the earth original. However,
in her true fashion, it was shaped by her style,
(13:04):
which I think is brilliant. And the fact that an
artist of her stature, from a different generation and a
different country could connect so deeply with that song, to
me is a testament of the reach of Tut's animatals.
It's a testament to the power of the lyrics that
Uncle Tutz wrote that it could touch anyone. You know,
(13:27):
It's more than admiration. It's proof that the songs he
wrote resonate far beyond time and place. I often think
about Uncle Tut's philosophy that music is not just entertainment,
(13:48):
it's storytelling, a vehicle for connection and a way to
uplift the human spirit. He taught me that life, much
like reggae, is a blend of rhythm and improvisation, structure
and spontaneity. Uncle Tutz passed away on September eleventh, twenty twenty,
(14:12):
in Kingston, Jamaica, at age seventy seven. His passing was
met with grief around the world, and tributes came from
his bandmates, other musicians, public figures, and fans all around
the world. I remember I couldn't turn on the TV
(14:37):
because it was all over the news, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News,
it was everywhere. I think that is a day I'll
never forget, because even on my computer, I couldn't go
on my computer. It was everywhere. And although I've known
him and been around him my whole life, I think
(15:01):
that was the day that I realized, you know, what
an impact he's had, to the point where you know,
every news outlet is reporting it in such a way,
and it really showed what a loss it was to
not only just the entertainment or the music industry, but
(15:21):
to the world. Paul McCartney called him one of the
finest singers of our generation. Elton John praised how Uncle
Tutz would bring people together through joyous music. The music Press,
fellow reggae artist all spoke of loss, but also immense gratitude.
(15:46):
As someone that has known him my whole life. I
carry my lifelong memories sitting backstage watching him, watching the band.
I remember his voice all the time. I saw how
(16:06):
much it meant to him that his songs were sung
by people far beyond our community in Europe, in Japan,
in Africa. It really gave him joy to know that
his music was not just heard, but it was appreciated
(16:29):
and it resonated with so many different persons from different backgrounds.
Thank you for tuning in. I know this is not
our usual episode, but being that it is five years today,
which I still cannot believe, I really wanted to do
(16:53):
something to honor Uncle Tut's and to honor the Metals,
and to just give you a glimpse. I encourage you
to do your own research, but just to give you
a little glimpse into the impact that Uncle Tutz and
the Metals have had in music and in this world.
You cannot erase history, you cannot erase impact, and it's
(17:23):
not just about awards or accolades, but again, it's about
who he was as a human being, the storyteller, the
lover of his fans, the carrier of hope. And as
long as we continue to share the music to speak
(17:46):
about the lessons that his songs taught us, resilience, joy, love,
his legacy will always live. So I will continue to
keep telling these stories and preserving the stories and ensuring
new errors discover the music, the metals, the melody, and
(18:11):
all the songs that carry who he was as a person.
So I encourage you to go on Apple Music or
Spotify wherever you stream music, and listen to tutsanda metals,
Listen to those lyrics, listen to those melodies. If you
can find, you know, go on YouTube, find their live
(18:33):
shows and you'll see what I'm talking about. You'll hear,
you know, the drums, the bass, the guitar. You know,
the guitar solo of Uncle Carl Harvey, one of the
greatest guitarists of all time. You cannot replicate that, you know.
(18:54):
So I think it's so amazing that we have things
like you too, that we can see old videos and
see them playing together, you know, because unfortunately We're never
gonna see that again. So yeah, I encourage you to
use this day, or this week, or whenever you hear
this episode to do your research and listen to the music.
(19:20):
As Uncle Tutz would say, listen to them Bead Movie,
Dancyntheed Rock and Bundy Line right on time. You got so,
and I got so, everybody got so, got so much
(19:44):
so
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