Paul Douglas
Meet Paul Douglas
The Grammy Award-winning drummer and percussionist was named one of Drummerworld's 'Top 500 Drummers'. Born in Jamaica, Paul Douglas is a prolific studio musician and has been a member of several bands before joining the genre-defining group Toots and the Maytals in 1969 as a founding member of the Maytals Band. Renowned music journalist and reggae historian David Katz hails Paul Douglas as a "dependable drummer" whose rhythms have adorned countless reggae classics. Regarded as one of reggae's most prolific drummers, Douglas's work spans genres and decades, from Bob Marley and the Wailers to The Boris Gardiner Happening.
"On the instrumental front, Perry (Lee "Scratch" Perry) began more serious experimentation, exploring diverse influences and styles with a range of musicians. ...Perry also started working with Paul Douglas, an occasional Supersonics member and mainstay of Leslie Kong's productions."
— David Katz, People Funny Boy - The Genius Of Lee "Scratch" Perry
In addition to touring globally for nearly 50 years as the former drummer and bandleader of Toots and the Maytals, Paul Douglas has performed live with notable artists and groups including Al Green, Keith Richards, Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, Trey Anastasio, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Gale, the original Wailers, and Santana.
Paul Douglas Discography
Paul Douglas is credited on over 250 notable musical works.
He’s provided rhythm for seminal artists including Toots and the Maytals, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Ken Boothe, Boris Gardiner, and many more.
1960s
From 1968-1969 Paul Douglas was a member of Tommy McCook & The Supersonics. He also performed session work for multiple artists in the 1960s, including for The Maytals.
Paul Douglas’ 1960s Discography
-
Toots & The Maytals “The Sensational Maytals“
Toots & The Maytals & Prince Buster's All Stars “Dog War / Little Flea“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Never Grow Old“
Toots & The Maytals “Life Could Be A Dream“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Sweet and Dandy“
Tommy McCook & The Supersonics “Mary Poppins“
-
King Stitt “Herdsman Shuffle“
King Stitt “Lee Van Cleef“
The Maytals “Sweet And Dandy / Oh - Yea“
Toots & The Maytals “Monkey Man“
Tommy McCook & The Supersonics “Red Ash“
Tommy McCook & The Supersonics “Tribute to Rameses“
King Stitt & The Dynamites “Vigorton 2“
1970s
In the 1970s Paul Douglas continued working as a member of Beverley's All-Stars and recording with multiple artists in the studio. In 1974, he was selected by Christopher Blackwell along with Jackie Jackson and Radcliffe ‘Dougie’ Bryan as the founding members of The Maytals Band who, along with frontman Toots Hibbert, created the group Toots and The Maytals.
Paul Douglas’ 1970s Discography
-
The Melodians “Everybody Bawling“
Ken Boothe “Freedom Street“
Clancy Eccles And The Dynamites “Herbsman Reggae“
Boris Gardiner “Reggae Happening“
Delano Stewart “Stay A Little Bit Longer“
The Melodians “Sweet Sensation“
Delano Stewart “That's Life“
The Gaylads “There's A Fire“
Bob and Marcia “Young Gifted and Black“
Toots & The Maytals “Feel Alright“
Bob Marley & The Wailers “Baby Baby Come Home“
Bob Marley & The Wailers “Sophisticated Psychedelication“
Ernie Smith “Ride On Sammy”
-
Bob Marley & The Wailers “Soul Shakedown Party“
Bob Marley & The Wailers “The Best of the Wailers“
Toots & The Maytals “Bam-Bam / Pomps And Pride“
Boris Gardiner “Soulful Experience“
Toots & The Maytals “Greatest Hits“
-
Toots & The Maytals “The Harder They Come“
Toots & The Maytals “Slatyam Stoot“
Toots & The Maytals “Daddy / It Was Written Down“
Toots & The Maytals “Pomps And Pride“
Toots & The Maytals “Country Road / Louie Louie“
Toots & The Maytals “Louie Louie / Pressure Drop“
Boris Gardiner “For All We Know“
-
The Boris Gardiner Happening “Is What's Happening“
Toots & The Maytals “Sit Right Down“
Toots & The Maytals “Country Road / Funky Kingston“
Toots & The Maytals “In The Dark / Sailing On“
Jimmy Cliff / Toots & The Maytals “You Can Get It If You Really Want / Sweet & Dandy“
Toots & The Maytals “Screwface Underground“
Toots & The Maytals “Daddy“
Toots & The Maytals “Country Road“
Toots & The Maytals “From the Roots,“
Toots & The Maytals “Funky Kingston,“
Toots & The Maytals “The Original Golden Oldies Vol.3“
Vic Taylor “Reflections“
-
Ernie Smith “Duppy Gunman“
Ken Boothe “Everything I Own“
Toots & The Maytals “In the Dark,“
Toots & The Maytals “Who Knows Better“
Toots & The Maytals “Time Tough“
Toots & The Maytals “I Can't Believe / 5446 Instrumental“
Toots & The Maytals “Sailing On / If You Act This Way“
Toots & The Maytals “You Don't Love Me“
Bob Andy “Fire Burning“
Fr. Richard HoLung, Harrison & Friends “Letters Job To John“
Johnny Nash "I Can't Take It Reggae"
Ken Booth "Crying Over You"
Ken Booth "The Impossible Dream"
Marcia Griffiths “Play Me”
-
Toots & The Maytals “Reggae's Got Soul“
Susan Cadogan “Hurts So Good“
Horace Forbes “Impossible<“
Faith D'Aguilar “Jamaica“
Eric Gale “Negril“
Pluto Shervington “Pluto“
Byron Lee And The Dragonaires & Mighty Sparrow “Sparrow Dragon Again“
Johnny Nash “Tears On My Pillow“
Ken Booth “Freedom Street”
Pluto Shervington “I Man Born Yah”
-
Ken Boothe “Blood Brothers“
Pluto Shervington “Dat“
R.D. Livingstone “Home From Home“
Errol Brown “Pleasure Dub“
Pluto Shervington “Ram Goat Liver“
Toots & The Maytals “Reggae Got Soul“
King Tubby & Clancy Eccles All Stars “Sound System International Dub LP“
Funky Brown “These Songs Will Last Forever“
Bob Marley & The Wailers / Toots & The Maytals “Trenchtown Rock / Reggae Got Soul“
Toots & The Maytals “Image Get A Lick“
-
The Congos & Friends “Fisherman“
The Congos “Heart Of The Congos“
The Mexicano “Move Up Starsky“
Musicism “Swing Me Gentle“
Musicism “Riding In Rhythm“
The Maytals “Toots Presents The Maytals“
Ken Boothe “Freedom Day”
-
Toots & The Maytals “Famine / Pass The Pipe“
Toots & The Maytals “Take It From Me“
Harold Butler “Gold Connection“
Ernie Smith “I'll Sing For Jesus“
Derrick Morgan “Love City“
Lovindeer “Sexy Reggae“
The Mexicano “Goddess Of Love“
Jackie Edwards “Starlight“
Dandy Livingstone “The South African Experience“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Israel Children / Turn It Up“
Multiple Artists “Children Of Babylon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)“
Nana McLean “Dream Of Life“
Danny Adams “Summer In Montego Bay“
Ojiji “The Shadow“
Toots & The Maytals “Pressure Drop: Best of Toots & The Maytals“
Toots & The Maytals “Pass the Pipe,“
Toots & The Maytals “Just Like That“
Toots & The Maytals “The Best Of Toots And The Maytals“
1980s
In the 1980s Paul Douglas continued recording and performing with Toots and the Maytals. In 1981, the group received their first Grammy nomination for the album Toots Live! In 1985, Paul Douglas became bandleader of The Maytals Band.
Paul Douglas’ 1980s Discography
-
Toots & The Maytals “Just Like That / Gone With The Wind“
Toots & The Maytals “Toots & The Maytals E.P.“
Toots & The Maytals “Chatty, Chatty“
Toots & The Maytals “Live: Monkey Man / Hallelujah“
Toots & The Maytals “Chatty, Chatty“
Toots & The Maytals “Toots “Live,”“
Hearbert Lee “Love Songs Vol. 1“
Bobby Stringer “Reggae Love Songs“
Ossie Scott “Many Moods Of Ossie Scott“
-
Toots & The Maytals “I Can See Clearly Now“
Toots & The Maytals “Beautiful Woman“
Toots & The Maytals “Papa D / You Never Know“
Toots & The Maytals “Beautiful Woman / Show Me The Way“
Toots & The Maytals “Papa Dee Mama Dear / Dilly Dally“
Toots & The Maytals “His Songs Live On“
Toots & the Maytals “Knock Out!“
Beres Hammond “Let's Make A Song“
Multiple Artists “The King Kong Compilation: The Historic Reggae Recordings“
-
Toots & The Maytals “I Know We Can Make It / Spend A Weekend“
Dennis Brown / Toots & The Maytals “Sitting & Watching / Bam Bam“
Toots & The Maytals “Knockout“
Toots & the Maytals “Hour Live“
Pluto Shervington “I Man Born Ya“
Pioneers “Reggae For Lovers“
Pluto Shervington “Your Honour“
Live at Reggae Sunsplash: Best of the Festival
-
Lovindeer “Man Shortage“
Ochi Brown “Danger Date“
Boyo “You're My World“
George Pioneer & Jackie Pioneer “Reggae For Lovers Volume 2“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Live At Reggae Sunsplash“
Toots & The Maytals “Reggae Greats“
-
Owen Gray “Watch This Sound“
-
Lovindeer “Caribbean Christmas Cheer“
Bob Andy “Fire Burning”
-
Lovindeer “Octapussy“
Toots & The Maytals “Toots in Memphis“
Toots & The Maytals “Do The Reggae 1966-1970“
1990s
Toots and The Maytals continued touring and recording in the 1990s. The group was nominated for two Grammy awards in the decade.
Paul Douglas’ 1990s Discography
-
Toots & The Maytals “An Hour Live“
-
Bob Marley & The Wailers “Songs Of Freedom CD-01“
Toots & The Maytals “Knock Out!“
-
The Maytals “Bla. Bla. Bla.“
Multiple Artists “Kingston Town: 18 Reggae Hits“
Multiple Artists “The Story of Jamaican Music: Tougher Than Tough“
-
Toots & The Maytals “The Collection“
Bob Andy “Games People Play”
-
Clancy Eccles “Joshua's Rod of Correction“
King Stitt “Reggae Fire Beat“
The Dynamites “The Wild Reggae Bunch“
Toots & The Maytals “Time Tough: The Anthology“
Toots & The Maytals “Monkey Man“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Recoup,“
Multiple Artists “Fire On The Mountain: Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead Vol. 1 & 2“
Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites “Nyah Reggae Rock“
-
Bob Marley & The Wailers “The Complete Wailers CD-03“
From Chapter To Version “20 Reggae DJ Classics“
Multiple Artists “From GG's Reggae Hit Stable Volume 1 & 2“
Derrick Harriott “Riding The Roots Chariot“
Toots & The Maytals “Live in London“
Toots & The Maytals “The Very Best of Toots & The Maytals“
Toots & The Maytals “Ska Father“
Toots & The Maytals “Jamaican Monkey Man“
-
The Maytals / Toots & the Maytals “Monkey Man & From The Roots“
Toots & the Maytals “That's My Number“
The Maytals “The Originals“
Morgan Heritage & Denroy Morgan / Toots & The Maytals “Harvest Is Plenty / Lost Your Character“
Toots & The Maytals “Bam Bam / 54 - 46“
Toots & The Maytals “Prayer of David“
2000s
In 2004 Paul Douglas and his Toots and the Maytals bandmates won their first Grammy award: Best Reggae Album of the Year for the album Toots & the Maytals - True Love. They also joined The Rolling Stones on A Bigger Bang Tour, the third highest grossing tour of all time.
Paul Douglas’ 2000s Discography
-
The Maytals “Fever“
The Maytals “Dressed to Kill“
Toots & The Maytals “54-46 Was My Number - Anthology 1964 To 2000“
Toots & The Maytals “Best Of Toots & The Maytals / Broadway Jungle“
Toots & The Maytals “The Best Of Toots & The Maytals“
Clancy Eccles “Reggae Revue at the VIP Club, Vol. 3“
Clancy Eccles “Reggae Revue at the Ward Theatre 1969-1970“
-
Toots & The Maytals / L.M.S.* “Humble / Respect All Woman“
Toots & The Maytals “Sweet And Dandy: The Best of Toots and the Maytals“
-
Toots & the Maytals “World Is Turning“
Toots & The Maytals “54 - 46 / Pressure Drop“
Toots & The Maytals “Funky Kingston / In The Dark“
Toots & The Maytals “Jungle“
-
Paul Douglas “Eyes Down“
Toots & the Maytals “True Love“
Toots & The Maytals “This Is Crucial Reggae“
Toots & The Maytals Featuring Shaggy And Rahzel “Bam Bam“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Pressure Drop: The Definitive Collection“
Toots & The Maytals “Roots Reggae - The Classic Jamaican Albums“
Toots & The Maytals “Rhythm Kings“
Toots & The Maytals “Deep In My Soul / Daddy“
Toots & The Maytals “Border Line“
-
Toots & The Maytals “The Essential Collection“
The Congos & Friends “Fisherman Style“
Toots & The Maytals “I’ve Got A Woman (A Tribute To Ray Charles)“
Toots & The Maytals “Acoustically Live at Music Millennium“
-
Toots & the Maytals “Light Your Light“
Ben Harper & The Skatalites / Toots & The Maytals “Be My Guest / I Want You To Know“
-
Toots & The Maytals “Sweet And Dandy: The Best of Toots & The Maytals“
Glen Ricketts “Rise Up“
-
Tommy McCook & The Supersonics “Pleasure Dub“
The Dynamites / King Tubby “Sound System International“
“Hibbert is always quick to acknowledge the remarkable run he’s had with members of his backing band, who were with him since recording for Beverly’s (Leslie Kong) and on many subsequent recordings, as well as decades of touring. Guitarist Hux Brown, bassist Jackie Jackson, drummer Paul Douglas, and organist Winston Wright gave the tracks recorded at Dynamic Sounds a professional musical arrangement and studio clarity that reggae needed in its early years as it was often derided as being simplistic. Douglas and Jackson have been a consistent part of Hibbert’s live shows for over 40 years.”
Affiliations
Paul Douglas is an official artist for Sabian cymbals and Ahead Drumsticks.
listen to the music
Paul Douglas Music
available on all streaming services
Podcast Episodes
Listen to podcasts featuring Paul Douglas. Explore the history of reggae and behind-the-scenes stories about the genre, its origins, and the musicians who helped create its sound.