Toots to perform on first New York show since being hit with bottle
KINGSTON, Jamaica – When Toots Hibbert performs at Groovin’ In The Park in Queens, New York today, it will be the reggae great’s first show in the Big Apple since 2013.
He is looking forward to the event, which takes place at Roy Wilkins Park.
“New York always show me a lot of love. I plan to give dem back a lot of love,” said Toots.
The Grammy-winning singer is in the early stages of a United States/Europe tour. It is his first trek since May 2013 when he was struck with a bottle by a drunken fan at the Dominion Riverrock festival in Virginia.
A potentially debilitating injury from the blow kept Toots from performing. He settled a lawsuit with promoters of that event in March.
Ironically, Toots was scheduled to perform at ‘Groovin’ that year. He plans to make up for lost time.
“I’m going to do the songs the fans love; you have to give the people what they want,” he said.
Before the Virginia incident, Toots and his Maytals band were reggae’s top touring act, performing to sold-out venues in the US, Europe and Asia.
Thanks to songs like 54-46, Monkey Man and Funky Kingston, he has had a fan base in Europe and the US since the late 1960s and early 1970s, respectively.
This is the sixth Groovin’ In The Park. It also features Beres Hammond, Tessanne Chin, Duane Stephenson, Brian McKnight, and Peabo Bryson.
Howard Campbell