Peter Tosh was born Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 19, 1944 in Grange Hill, Jamaica.
Raised by his mother, Mrs. Alvera Coke, and also an aunt, in the parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica, at a very early age, Winston learned to play organ and to sing in the choir at the local church. He also built his first guitar from a sardine can, and went on to master the melodica and percussion instruments, as well.
October 19, 1959 Trenchtown
Even as a young boy, he had felt alienated by the hypocrisy of the doctrines that were taught in school and in church, and so he left home in his early teens and headed for the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, known as Trenchtown.
1960
Joe Higgs
Like many of his fellow young aspiring musicians, he found his way to Joe Higgs, a local musician who offered free music lessons to youth. Always mindful of the hidden meanings of words and their sounds, McIntosh also shortened his name to Peter Tosh (as McIntosh sounded as if it contained the word "mocking").
1961
Performing in Trenchtown
Through their common mentor Joe Higgs, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Bunny ‘Wailer’ Livingston and Junior Braithwaite met and began performing together in informal sessions on Third Street in Trenchtown.
December 1, 1963
Simmer Down
The Wailing Wailers released their first single “Simmer Down.” It became a hit in Jamaica.
1964
Ska
A group of Jamaican musicians who had played in sessions with Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, and others took a new sound and ran with it. That sound soon became known as “ska.”
1964
The Wailing Wailers
Peter Tosh and his friends, Bob Marley, Bunny Livingston and Junior Braithwaite, founded the group The Wailing Wailers.
1964
"True Musician"
Peter was a true musician and his country vibes, mixed with a “churchical” upbringing, lent a mystical edge, as well as sophistication, to the Wailers’ music
1965
Lead Vocals
With Peter Tosh on lead vocals, The Wailing Wailers recorded two more hit ska songs.
Jumbie Jamboree
In “Jumbie Jamboree”, Peter Tosh changed the lyrics to describe the unruly fans at a Wailers’ performance as a party of zombies.
“why-o, me glad you come over”
Additionally, the chorus was taken from the “why-o, me glad you come over” chorus of the the Jamaican folk song, “River Been Come Down”
"Sampling"
Again, by “sampling” from popular Jamaican folk songs, this new group felt familiar to its audience, which contributed to its popularity.
April 21, 1966
Sacred Day
This date has become the single most sacred day in the Rastafarian calendar.
Emperor Haile Selassie
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia visited Jamaica for the first and only time, to be greeted by over 100 000 Rastafarians, Peter Tosh being one of them. Bob Marley was living in Delaware at the time.
1967
The Wailers
Soon afterwards, the three friends renamed their group The Wailers.
Rock-Steady Pace
Veering away from the up-tempo dance of ska, the band slowed down to a rock-steady pace, and infused their lyrics with political and social messages. Tosh became particularly known for his political commentaries and activism in his songs.
Lee "Scratch" Perry
The Wailers penned several songs for American pop singer Johnny Nash before teaming up with production wizard Lee (“Scratch”) Perry to record some of reggae’s earliest hits including “Soul Rebel,” “Duppy Conqueror” and “Small Axe.”
1969
Randy’s Studio 17
Vincent Chin and his wife Pat open a studio called Randy’s Studio 17, where The Wailers record the first version of their full-length album, Catch A Fire.
1970
Tuff Gong Records
The Wailers create Tuff Gong Records, owned in equal parts by Tosh, Marley and Bunny.
1972
Island Records
The Wailers become Caribbean superstars. The band enters into a record contract with Island Records.
1973
Catch a Fire
The Wailers release their debut on Island Records, a new release of Catch a Fire.
Tour
During the next year, The Wailers tour frequently, on several occasions even opening concerts for an up-and-coming American star named Bruce Springsteen.
African Herbsman
The Wailers release African Herbsman on Trojan Records
Car Accident
Another driver (driving on the wrong side of the road) forces Tosh’s car off the road, and the ensuing accident kills Peter’s girlfriend at the time and severely fractures Peter’s own skull. This is neither the first nor the last physical catastrophe that Tosh experiences, and survives, in his life.
Burnin
The Wailers release their second album on Island Records, Burnin’. It’s a well named album as it is incendiary from start to finish, with Tosh, Wailer and Marley all sounding more revolutionary.
Dissatisfaction
Dissatisfaction has already started to develop between Peter and Bunny, on one hand, and Island Records president Chris Blackwell, on the other hand. Blackwell selects Bob Marley to lead The Wailers, despite that the three founders had always enjoyed equal billing and standing, and also selects Marley to co-produce The Wailers’ albums. More of Marley’s songs end up on the Island Records releases than songs by Tosh or Wailer. Bunny also expresses his displeasure with the touring schedule that Island Records imposes upon the band.
1974
Tosh leaves the Wailers
First Bunny Wailer and then Tosh leave the Wailers, citing (among other things) the unfair treatment and disproportionate payments they received from Blackwell, whom Tosh often refers to publicly as ‘Christopher Whiteworst’.
1975
Pursues Project Alone
Blackwell and Island Records refuse to publish Peter Tosh’s proposed first solo album, and Marley refuses to assist his old friend in financing the album unless Tosh agrees to comply with a number of “conditions.” Tosh, always independent and forthright, refuses, and pursues the project alone.
1976
Legalize It, Platinum Solo Album
Tosh releases his first solo record, Legalize It on CBS Records. It goes on to be his first gold and then his first platinum solo album, and propels Tosh (as a solo performer) into the highest pantheon of reggae performers of all time.
Anthem for the marijuana movement
The title track soon became the primary anthem for the marijuana movement worldwide and was a favorite at Tosh’s concerts.
Survivor
As Marley preached his “One Love” message, Tosh railed against the hypocritical political, social, educational and economic “shitstem,” and became a favorite target of the Jamaican police. He proudly wore the scars that he had received from the beatings he endured at the hands of multiple police officers, inside of locked cells. But until his final day, Tosh was a true survivor, and also was never a man to be silenced!
1977
Equal Rights
Tosh releases Equal Rights, which was to be yet another gold album for him. "I don’t want no peace, I want equal rights and justice!”
His lyrics in the title song “I don’t want no peace, I want equal rights and justice!” would become a rallying cry for the world’s downtrodden masses, and was the topic for essays by a young Barack Obama, when he was a student at Columbia University in New York. The album features numerous other politically and socially charged hits, including songs about South Africa’s Apartheid policies, African identification, and class struggles.
1978
Bush Doctor
Tosh releases Bush Doctor, which includes the hit “(You Gotta Walk) Don’t Look Back,” with Mick Jagger, and the title track (recorded with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards) on Rolling Stones Records. Once again, the album is certified gold in sales in a matter of months after its release.
April 22, 1978
One Love Peace Concert
After tensions between various Jamaican gangs and rogue members of the Jamaican military had reached severe levels, Bob Marley decides to organize a concert called the One Love Peace Concert, to bring peace to the bullet-riddled streets of Jamaica.
April 22, 1978
Tosh sings his most militant songs
Tosh uses his stage time to sing his most militant songs, and speaks angrily against the government and politicians in general, and defiantly smokes ganja onstage. Hugely popular with the crowd (and with members of the Rolling Stones, who were backstage and immediately asked Tosh to become the first Artist, other than the Rolling Stones, to record on their new record label) this performance was less of a hit with the government officials who were present.
Victim of severe brutality
Though Tosh was already a favorite target for the police, from that point on, he became a regular victim of severe brutality
December 16, 1978
Saturday Night Live
Appears as a guest on Saturday Night Live with Mick Jagger.
1979
Mystic Man
Tosh releases Mystic Man on Rolling Stones Records. This spiritual album includes the hit Buk-in-Hamm Palace, in which Tosh muses about smoking ganja with Queen Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace.
Tosh appears in Rolling Stones’ video
Tosh appears in Rolling Stones’ video for hit “Waiting on a Friend.”
1981
Wanted Dread and Alive
Tosh releases Wanted Dread and Alive on Rolling Stones Records, with new classics including “Fools Die” and (in the U.K. version) the controversial “Oh Bumbo Klaat!”
1983
Mama Africa
Release of Mama Africa on EMI, which includes reggae version of Chuck Berry classic, “Johnny B. Goode.”
1984
Exile in Africa
Tosh goes into self-imposed exile in Africa, seeking the spiritual advice of traditional medicine men in Africa, and trying to free himself from recording agreements that distributed his records in South Africa.
September 11, 1987
Peter Tosh Shot
An acquaintance of Peter Tosh’s, Dennis Lobban, and other armed gunmen, enter Tosh’s home and after ordering all to lay on their bellies on the floor, shoot Tosh and several of his houseguests (including celebrated Jamaican disc jockey Free-I) in the head.
Tosh is announced dead
Tosh is announced dead at local hospital, as are two of his friends (including Free-I), though three others somehow survived.
September 12, 1987
Jamaica mourns
All of Jamaica is in mourning at loss of friend, leader, musician, poet, rebel and humanitarian, and many celebrities come from all over the World to see his earthly body. Peter’s body is taken to his mother’s land, where he had grown up, in Westmoreland, Jamaica. He had never left Jamaica, and he can be visited there to this day. Never officially married, Peter left ten children, who lovingly preserve his memory, his messages and his music, to this day.
December 1, 1987 — January 1, 1987
Numerous posthumous collections of Peter’s music released
Numerous posthumous collections of Peter’s music, including live and rare tracks are released after Peter’s death, on numerous labels, including Capitol Records, Sony Legacy. DVDs of live performances are also released.
1988
Lobban sentenced to death
Lobban was sentenced to death for his crime, though his sentence was later commuted and he remains in prison in Jamaica to this day.
Grammy for Best Reggae Recording
Tosh releases No Nuclear War on EMI, and posthumously wins Grammy for Best Reggae Recording (the first Grammy awarded for a reggae album).
October 1, 2012
Order of Merit
November 1, 2016
Museum Grand Opening
The Peter Tosh Museum officially opened to the public
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