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By Lookout Staff

August 27 – The act responsible for first using the word “raggae” in a song will bring the steady, swaying rhythms of Jamaica to the Santa Monica Pier for a free concert Thursday night.

Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, shaped the sound of Reggae with a unique, original combination of gospel, ska, soul, reggae and rock.

Led by Toots Hibbert, a legend whose career spans every development in Jamaican music, from ska through rock-steady to reggae, the group is comprised of childhood friends Nathaniel "Jerry" Matthias, and Henry "Raleigh."

The most enduring of all Jamaica's groups, the Maytals are credited with giving the music its name, first using the word "reggae" in the song "Do the Reggay" in 1968.

Toots & the Maytals won the 2005 Grammy award for best reggae album "True Love,"
consisting of new versions of their classics recorded with legendary musicians Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards, as well as today's most popular artists today such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.

Their latest "Light Your Light" has again been nominated for Grammy for Best Reggae Album, marking the 4th nomination for Toots since the Grammies have had a reggae category.

"Light Your Light" is the 1st album recorded for Concord Records on their Fantasy label. Produced by Toots & Richard Feldman, it is a must have for all Toots fans.

The Best of Toots & The Maytals: 20th Century Masters won rave reviews.

“Toots and the Maytals have the power to turn your head around,” wrote critic Michael Stephens. “They transcend genres and speak to rock, funk, gospel and even folk and country audiences as much as to lovers of Jamaican reggae.”