RIP TOOTS HIBBERT: BBC 6 MUSIC TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS INTERVIEW

I didn't get a moment to post this at the weekend because I was working but I was so sad to hear the news of the death of Toots Hibbert from iconic reggae band Toots and the Maytals. I spoke to him just a couple of months ago for BBC Radio 6 Music about his new album ‘Got To Be Tough’ - the first new Toots album in over a decade. It was quite late in the day because of the time difference I'd stayed until about 7pm and he was on his way to the studio so at one point pulled over, at another he stopped to have breakfast, all while nattering away. He talked to me openly down the line from Jamaica, about being tough in hard times, collaborating with Ziggy Marley on one of the album tracks and Toot’s memories of time spent with his father Bob Marley and about all the music he has been making. He was prolific. And an absolute joy. At the end of the conversation he was very complimentary about our chat and my voice! He told me to call him any time. I've put the sign-off on the end of this piece that went out on 6 Music because it filled me with so much joy I went home beaming.

​Rest in peace Toots you wonderful soul. Thanks for the incredible legacy you left with all those tunes Pressure Drop, 54-46 That's My Number, Monkey Man, the list is endless.