Toots Hibbert: Jamaican reggae legend dies aged 77 - BBC News
Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert was the front man of reggae band Toots & the Maytals.
Toots Hibbert had reportedly been tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks

Jamaican reggae pioneer Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert has died at the age of 77.

The legendary musician fronted the reggae and ska band Toots & the Maytals from the early 1960s.

Hibbert "passed away peacefully" in Kingston, Jamaica surrounded by his family, the group announced on Friday.

As yet it is unknown how Hibbert died, although he had been tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks and was put into intensive care.

Hibbert is credited with popularising reggae music and even naming the genre - his 1968 single "Do the Reggay" is the first song to use the term.

Other popular tracks include Pressure Drop, Sweet and Dandy, and 54-46 That's My Number.

In a statement, the band and Hibbert's family thanked medical staff "for their care and diligence". He is survived by his wife and seven of his eight children.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Toots & The Maytals This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of twitter post by Toots & The Maytals

His death comes just weeks before the release of Got to Be Tough, the band's first full-length album in more than a decade.

Described as "the world's greatest living reggae singer" in a Rolling Stone profile last month, his vocal style has been compared to Otis Redding. The magazine lists him as one of the 100 greatest singers of all time.

Tributes poured in for the legendary musician on social media.

UK actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry said he was "so sorry" to hear of his death.

"His music was a constant in our house growing up," he tweeted. "His voice was powerful and adaptable to funk, soul, country, AND reggae. Rest in power."

Reggae and pop group UB40 said Hibbert's music "influenced and inspired us to love reggae music from an early age", while UK artist Ghostpoet wrote: "Another legend returns to the earth. What an impact he made in his time here."

And Ziggy Marley - son of reggae icon Bob Marley - wrote on Twitter that Hibbert was "a father figure to me".

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 2 by Ziggy Marley This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.