HOPETON HIBBERT, SON OF TOOTS, HAS DIED!

Hopeton Hibbert, a bass guitarist and son of reggae legend Toots Hibbert,  died in Jamaica on April 10, a relative has confirmed.

Hibbert, who was in his early 60s, died from complications of diabetes. He played intermittently in his father’s band since the 1990s and also toured with Morgan Heritage, Damian, and Julian Marley.

He was one of four of Toots’ children who followed him into music. Daughters Leba, Melanie, and Jenieve were members of 54-46, the legendary singer’s harmony group.

Melanie died during the 1990s. Toots, known for reggae standards such as Bam Bam, 54-46, Sweet And Dandy, and Pressure Drop, died in 2020 at age 77.

Prior to joining his father’s Maytals band, Hopeton Hibbert played with the  Skool band which was part of Reggae Sunsplash tours of the United States.

Singer Twiggi, who toured with Toots for over 20 years,  said it was Hopeton who brought her into his father’s band.

She remembers him as “a wicked bass player” and flashy dresser “who was always in a trenchcoat.”