ANDREA Davis, local music industry insider and former manager of veteran reggae artiste Toots Hibbert, is echoing the sentiment of a number of Jamaicans that the late singer’s latest Grammy win is bittersweet.

Hibbert, who died in September last year, won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album on Sunday for his project Got To Be Tough. This was his second Grammy win; he took home the trophy in 2005 for True Love, and in 2013 he was nominated for Reggae Got Soul.

“I am very happy that the academy saw it fit to vote for him to win the Grammy, but, of course, it is bittersweet. We would have all wanted him to be with us in the flesh to accept his award. But this is a great achievement and a fitting addition to his legacy,” Davis told the Jamaica Observer.

She also responded to the popular belief that Hibbert was a shoe-in to take the reggae category for sentimental reasons and that his death may have caused the members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the body which organises the Grammy, to vote in a particular way.

“Sentiment may have very well played a role in the the way the members voted, let’s just be honest. But the truth is the push that each nominee puts behind their nominated work also get a project noticed. Let’s also be honest that there was a quite a bit of muscle that came with this great project and it paid off in getting it out in front. So even though I didn’t work on this project with Toots, I am so pleased with this win,” Davis noted.

Having worked with Toots for a number of years, Davis was privy to some great moments during his travels and performances both locally and overseas. For her, Toots was a special breed of artiste who was recognised along with the greats such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff as being one of the architects, foundation and pillars of the Jamaican musical sound.

“He’s definitely part of that special collection that the artistes of today are benefiting from. It is his work and creativity, along with the others that we have lost in recent months such as Bob Andy, Bunny Wailer and Daddy U Roy that we in the industry has been built on. It is their legacy that we celebrate each time a young artiste steps on a stage here in Jamaica or anywhere across the globe, and we can’t thank them enough.”

“Speaking of Toots in particular, I think because he came from the country and grew up in the church and had a sensibility that allowed him to marry the sound of the Jamaican people along with other genres such as country. That made him special. Then there was the way he wrote. He crafted his lyrics in a way that even a child could understand. Then there was the versatility that allowed him to move through ska, rocksteady and reggae, and have hits in every genre. We can’t talk about the man and not speak about his live performances. Very few can hold a candle to a Toots performance. He had an energy level that was that of a man half his age,” she continued.

Davis recalled preparing for a documentary by the BBC. For her, this was Toots and his brilliance at work.

“He was always inspired to create. His office was his studio and like so many Jamaican artiste making music is what they do best. For the BBC documentary we were just asked for one acoustic performance. So it would just be Toots on guitar, his son on drums, daughter singing backup. Once he started I suggested that since he had set up may as well just continue with a few more songs. It was that spur of the moment recording that became his Reggae Got Soul album, which got him a Grammy nomination. That just shows that on any day you could call on him and what you got was great… exceptional. That’s why Rolling Stone magazine had to name his one of the great voices of the 20th century.”

Davis noted that from her standpoint the biggest tribute that the artiste of today could pay to this icon of the Jamaican soundscape is the continue to make great music.

“He was always heartened by the young artistes who were doing good for the music. So the thing to do to honour his legacy is to continue being creative and innovative. Continue to deliver quality music with a positive message. If you notice his music was all about love and unity. I would also encourage those in such positions to play his music. The music never grows old. It is always the voice to the soundtrack of our lives, and it is embedded in the Jamaican cultural heritage,” said Davis.