Peter Tosh (October 9, 1944 ??? September 11, 1987) was a pioneer reggae musician, as well as a trailblazing Rastafarian. Born Winston Hubert McIntosh, young Peter grew up in Trenchtown, a slum within the Jamaican capital, Kingston. His short-fuse temper usually kept him in trouble, earning him the nickname Stepping Razor, after a song written by Joe Higgs, an early mentor. He began to sing and learn guitar at a young age, inspired by the American stations he could pick up on his radio. He often struggled in Jamaica with his group the Wailers (aka the Wailing Wailers - the group included Bunny Wailer and the world-renowned Bob Marley). Tosh joined them on a tour of England in 1972. This was to become his first step to world fame, as during this trip the group signed with Chris Blackwells' Island Records. Their first album for this record label was the classic LP Catch A Fire. This album represented an entirely new breed of reggae, which meshed Jamaican roots riddims with American soul music and British rock. A tour of America and Britain followed as well as several successful albums. However, tension grew within the group, especially between Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, as Tosh witnessed Marley's persona within the group overshadow his own. Both Tosh and Bunny Wailer left in '75 in pursuit of solo careers. Tosh's solo career included a series of major hits. The year after his departure from the Wailers he released Legalize It, a record heavily promoting Rastafarian issues, most notably the use of marijuana to which the title refers. To this day the song "Legalize It" is regarded as an anthem for many promoters of marijuana legalization. More important than this however was his political impact, especially in pro-black questions. Whilst his former band mate Bob Marley became world renowned for his uplifting but universally relevant spiritualism, Tosh was always more interested in catering to the more militant pan-Africanists of the world. His third albu
1 | Mystery Babylon | Mama Africa |
2 | Handsome Johnny | I Am That I Am |
3 | Nothing But Love | Wanted Dread & Alive |
4 | Coming in Hot | Wanted Dread & Alive |
5 | No Sympathy | Reggae Dance Party, Vol. 1 |
6 | Fools Die | Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh |
7 | The Poor Man Feel It | Wanted Dread & Alive |
8 | Johnny B. Goode | Mama Africa |
9 | Not Gonna Give it Up | Mama Africa |
10 | Peace Treaty | Mama Africa |
11 | Fools Die | Wanted Dread & Alive |
12 | Maga Dog | Mama Africa |
13 | Track 01 | Mama Africa |
14 | Get Up, Stand Up | Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh |
15 | Till Your Well Runs Dry | Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh |
16 | Cold Blood | Wanted Dread & Alive |
17 | Bush Doctor | Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh |
18 | Stepping Razor | Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh |
19 | Rastafari Is | Wanted Dread & Alive |
20 | Equal Rights | Mama Africa |