ECA presents Toots and the Maytals Unplugged Acoustic Tour with Special Guest Anders Osborne

Saturday November 17, 2012, 7:30 PM
   Tickets are $31, $36 and $41, $16 youth Artist Information

Formed in Kingston Jamaica in 1962, ska and reggae pioneers Toots and the Maytals are celebrating 50 years of music in 2012. They are credited with coining the term "reggae", used in their 1968 single "Do the Reggay".  In 1972 they were featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events, "The Harder They Come", the film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff and named one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 Best Soundtracks of All Time.  In 2005, the group received the 2005 Grammy for Best Reggae Album "True Love" and received another Grammy nomination in 2008 for "Light Your Light".  To commemorate the 50th anniversary, Toots and the Mayals have released a career-spanning documentary, "Reggae Got Soul" and a new live album, "Unplugged on Strawberry Hill", recorded in Jamaica's Blue Mountains.  Watch a preview of the documentary here.

Singer/songwriter Anders Osborne was born in Sweden but left at home at 16 to hitchike and play music throughout Europe, North Africa, and the US.  He settled in New Orleans and still calls Louisana home.  During his first decade in New Orleans, Anders lived in the French Quarter and played regularly in local clubs. After gaining a following, Anders received an independent record deal with Rabadash Records out of New Orleans, and released "Doin’ Fine" in 1989.  His first commercial success came in 1995 with his album "Which Way to Here" and included two top 5 singles, “Favorite Son” and “Pleasin’ You.”   Since 1994, Anders has been working as a professional songwriter in Nashville, writing and producing for other artists.  Here is a video of Anders, featuring a song from his newest album, "When Will I See You Again."

The Toots Foundation, begun in 2008, supports underprivileged children throughout the world, although primarily in Jamaica.  Having grown up as the youngest of 7 children in May Pen, Jamaica, Toots has never forgotten his roots. Other charitable institutions and organizations receiving gifts from the Toots Foundation include the Jamaica Cancer Society, Bustamante Children’s Hospital, Victoria Jubilee Hospital and the Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  $1.00 from each ticket sold for all of Toots' US concerts, including this one, will be directed to The Toots Foundation.