Born as a lion from St. Mary's parrish in Jamaica, Junior Toots-- whose
given name is Clayton Hibbert-- was born on December 7, 1971, to Gloria Tate
and one of Reggae Music's Founding Fathers, Toots Hibbert. Like so many other
great Reggae singers, Junior Toots began singing as a youth in his hometown
church. As his father toured extensively, young Clayton lived with his grandparents
in the mystical mountains of St. Mary's countryside, where he learned the importance
of man's relation to the Almighty and nature, and responsibility for other living
beings.
As he grew older, he ventured into Kingston to take up residence with his
father. While in Kingston, he was witness to the harsh realities of city survival,
which would prove influential on his music in coming years. After experiencing
the daylong rehearsals of the Maytals, young Junior Toots was struck with an
insatiable longing to entertain. Already beginning to develop his voice, his
attendance at these rehearsals provided him with a classroom few musicians can
say they have attended. Through the Maytals hard work Junior Toots was shown
how to polish his craft and he masterfully integrated this knowledge.
In the early 80's he migrated to Connecticut in the United States to live
with his mother where he worked, went to school, and ran varsity track for Greenwich
High School. During this time he was also choreographing and teaching dance
lessons for Paula Appleby, which broadcast daily on MTV with hostess Downtown
Julie Brown. This led to performing locally at The Cafe and various events.
During that time Junior Toots further developed the Toots Vocal Style, performing
hip hop and rapping. Equipped with his father's characteristic features and
trademark legendary voice, his first release was a dub plate single entitled
Praise Jah (1989). Four EP's soon followed including: Harder and Harder, Dangerous
Living, Poor People Feel it, and Nothing to Gain, produced by Mahroon for Wild
Lyfe fe Muzik. In 1997, Jr. Toots went on to record with Everton Blender, Mickey
Spice and Jack Radics on the acclaimed Reggae Mood Swingz compilation. In the
late 1990s Junior Toots won Home Jams, an award given from FM 92.3 the Beat,
that gave him the opportunity to open for Biggie Small and Nate Dogg.
From 1997 until 2004, Junior Toots went on tour with Toots and the Maytals,
opening shows with his original tunes Holding Firm, Jah Give Us Victory, and
other hits from the album Black Christ Redemption for the Poor, released in
2001. He continued touring off and on with Toots and the Maytals, as well as
working on compilations with various musicians in California, USA, and recording
reggae/hip hop flava singles with Toots in Jamaica.
After years of touring, Junior Toots decided to take time to develop and
define his own style and launch his solo career. This began with the album Voice
of Jah Living Roots in 2005, released with KCA Productions, which introduces
his powerful roots message of righteousness and goodness with upbeat dancehall
style original rhythms. The same year, he released the single Dangerous with
Wisdom, which is still blowing up on the underground, and the single Jah is
Real, which went number one on KLRN in Miami, Florida.
Recently, he has begun touring on the West Coast and in December released
his most recent album, Junior Toots Crown of Fire. The next album is already
in the works and will be out in the next couple of months. After years of training
and then finding his own artistic expression, Junior Toots is on the scene.
The upful message so many are searching for is about to be set into motion.
