Toots Hibbert
TOOTS 'Maytals' Hibbert says he is getting legal advice on seeking a court judgement on the issue of royalties for his works.
He told Showbiz that he was dissatisfied with the< arnings from his songs and believe that he has not been fully rewarded. According to him the only way the issue can be effectively settled is in the court and he is planning on taking the matter there.
"I have two lawyers based in London who have been working intensively, putting a case together and as soon as that is completed, I am going to court. If I don't, I won't survive. I want to buy a house and a studio like everybody else," he said.
"I can't get any money and when I do get something the tax man is on my back. It's as if they don't want me to survive," he complained.
Toots expressed concern about his early catalogue, originally recorded with Dynamic Sounds and transferred to Island, as well as a catalogue of songs he had developed with Beverly Records, which also ended up with Island after the death of Beverly's founder Leslie Kong.
Toots told Showbiz he has earned from his catalogues, but feels the amounts were way below what he deserved: "Imagine the last cheque I received was for US$1,000! I was embarrassed," he said.
He has written for such movie soundtracks as The Harder They Come and says he was responsible for coining the name reggae. His biggest hits include 54-46 (That's My Number), Bam Bam and Daddy.
One of the most interesting developments in the music sector recently is the collaboration between Jimmy Tucker's Reliance Education Productions and Jamaica Recording and Publishing Studio Limited on the 'Rise Up!' project. The project brings together two of the most revered veterans of the local music business Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd and Tucker, a Jamaican child pop star of the mid-1900s, in a bid to improve the basic quality of Jamaican pop music.
Already under this project, Dodd's Tabernacle Records has released a single, Rise Up! The single is from the CD/album, Rise Up! Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs Volume 2, which is to be released later this year.
Tucker says the album will be called Volume 2 as it is considered a follow-up to Shakina, which was a package including a cassette and a book of patriotic songs based on the theme Shakina (the dwelling of God is with us).
Tucker says Rise Up! is commemorative of Jamaica's contribution of 500 years of music to 2000 years of Christianity: "Jamaicans, at home and abroad, are being expressly called for the healing of this and other nations in this project," he explained.
He thinks that Jamaican Christians should link up with others around the world to give creative responses to 21st century issues like globalisation.
Other songs on the upcoming CD include The Lord Is My Shepherd, He Never Failed Me Yet, Jah Is Our Keeper, No Man Is An Island and Let Us Break Bread Together.
