Frederick "Toots" Hibbert
Band: Toots & the Maytals
Position: singer, songwriter, guitarist
Died: September 11
Cause: Covid-19 (unofficial)
Age: 77
Distinctions: Born in Jamaica, reggae singer Toots Hibbert began his career in the early '60 along with Bob Marley; noted for a funky style and for inventing the word reggae; released 24 albums from 1964-2020; his final album Got to Be Tough came out just two weeks before his death; noted for such songs as "54-46 That's My Number" (watch below), "Pressure Drop" (listen below), "Funky Kingston" and "Monkey Man"; won the Best Reggae Album Grammy in 1984 for True Love; arrested and jailed for ganja possession for 18 months in Jamaica in 1966-1967; "Pressure Drop" was featured on The Harder They Come soundtrack in 1972; performed "I'm a Worried Man" with Willie Nelson on Nelson's 2005 reggae album, Countryman.
• Bones Hillman (nee Wayne Stevens) - Nov. 7; bassist with Aussie rock band Midnight Oil who had hits like "Beds Are Burning" (No. 17, 1987); passed away in Milwaukee after suffering from cancer; was 62.
• W.S. "Fluke" Holland - Sept. 23; Tennessee-born drummer played with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash and backed Elvis Presley on the recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" (watch below); cause undisclosed; was 85.
• Brian Howe - May 6; British singer perfomed with Bad Finger (1986-1994) and Ted Nugent (1984); suffered a heart attack and caridac arrest; was 66.
• Mike Huckaby - Apr. 24; Detroit DJ noted for his mix of techno, groove and jazz; suffered a stroke and contracted the coronavirus; was 54.
• Huey (nee Lawrence Franks Jr.) - June 25; St. Louis rapper had a No. 6 hit with "Pop, Lock & Drop It" (watch below) in 2006 and released albums in 2007 and 2010; murdered at his home in Kinlock, Missouri; was 32.
• Hachalu Hundessa - June 29; Ethiopian singer and activist was shot and killed in Addis Ababa; he was jailed from 2003-2008 for taking part in protests against persecution of the country's Oromo people; was 34.
I
i_o (nee Garrett Lockhart) - Nov. 25; Washington-born DJ/EDM artist; cause undisclosed; was 30.
J
Sam Jayne - Nov. 15; lead singer/guitarist of indie rock band Love as Laughter; found dead in New York after reported missing; was 46.
