Family remembers Toots on his birthday

Today, reggae legend Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert would have celebrated his 78th birthday.

Usually at this time of the year, there would be a large gathering at his home in Kingston as friends and family members would join him to celebrate.

There will be no birthday celebrations this year, as Hibbert passed away in September. However, the memories of his past birthday celebrations are still fresh in the minds of his family members.

"Words cannot express how much we all miss Toots. I feel very sad because he is not here to celebrate his birthday with us. Having a birthday party was something that he looked forward to every year. He always invited all of his friends and relatives to the house to celebrate with him," said Doreen Hibbert, his wife of 39 years and business partner for 57 years. "There would be lots of food and drinks for everyone. I always cooked his favourite meals, he loved the meals I prepared especially the curried goat and brown stewed fish. His birthday parties were joyous occasions, he made sure everyone had a great time."

Hibbert's daughter, Leba, also has fond memories of her father's past birthday celebrations.

"Celebrating his birthday every year was a very important thing for daddy. There would be lots of music, food, drinks and laughter. Daddy wanted everyone to have a good time. He was a true son of the sun. He brought a lot of light and happiness to our world. I miss him terribly, especially today. But I'm thankful that he left us with so many happy memories," she said.

Family man

Doreen said Hibbert was "a true family man" and he loved Christmas very much.

"It was a very special time of year for him because he saw it as a way of giving thanks for another year. As long as he was not on tour during Christmas, we would have a big celebration on Christmas Day with the entire family. Toots loved his Christmas cake and sorrel, and his curried goat and mannish water," she said.

Leba recalled the first time she and her sisters joined their father on tour.

"We were in the US and it was so amazing to see how people reacted to him, they were so excited to see him wherever we performed. That's the first time I realised how much he meant to the outside world, because to us he was just our daddy," she said. "It's going to be hard to get through the holidays without him for all of us. Christmas with him was always something special. I'll never forget how when we were small he would play the guitar and we would sing along with him. We will always love and cherish daddy."