Peter Tosh - Reggae Musician, Timeline and Personal Life
Peter Tosh's Personal Details
Peter Tosh was a famous Jamaican Reggae musician and a promoter of Rastafari
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | October 19, 1944 |
| Died on | September 11, 1987 |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Famous | Died Young, Musicians, Guitarists, Lyricists & Songwriters, Reggae Musician |
| Spouses | Andrea |
| Known as | Winston Hubert McIntosh, Stepping Razor |
| Childrens | Andrew Tosh |
| Birth Place | Westmoreland, Jamaica |
| Religion | Rastafarian |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Libra |
| Born in | Westmoreland, Jamaica |
| Famous as | Reggae Musician |
| Died at Age | 42 |
Peter Tosh's photo
Who is Peter Tosh?
Peter Tosh was born to very young parents, who refused to take his responsibility, thus leaving him without the protection and the love of parents that children generally deserve. In absence of his parents, he was raised by his aunt but only literally. One look at Tosh in his earlier days could make anyone believe the fact that he raised himself. He was an extremely resourceful, self-dependent being and fought for a number of causes. He became the voice for those who could not speak or did not have the means to voice their feelings to a worldwide audience. While some hated Tosh, others revered him as the rebellious hero. To many, he was a redeemer; a saint, who was sent to liberate the people of Jamaica, both physically and mentally by way of his music. He was one of the most renowned reggae artists of his time and was the founding member of the band ‘The Wailers’, which gave another important personality and artist, Bob Marley, a head-start in the world of music. Through all the hardships in Jamaica, the group came up with their first collaboration, ‘Catch A Fire’. As the core vocalist of the band, Tosh used music as a medium to voice his feelings and opinions. Apart from his career with ‘The Wailers’, he also had a successful solo career, which was cut-short due to his tragic death.
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Childhood & Early Life
Winston Hubert McIntosh was born on October 19, 1944 to parents who were way too young to raise him, in Jamaica. Instead, he was raised by his aunt in Grange Hill.
While he lived with his aunt, he became extremely inspired by American radio stations and developed an interest for singing and playing the guitar from a very young age.
In the early 1960s he moved to Kingston and started selling sugarcane juice. It was during this time, he befriended Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.
The trio began going to Joe Higgs, their voice tutor and began to hone their individual music talents. They soon realized their dreams and got together to form the band, ‘The Wailers’ in 1962.
Career
They started playing for covers of American pop hits and they slowly rose to fame.
Tosh was critical to the group because he was the only self-taught keyboardist and guitarist out of the three.
By the 1970s, a number of other members had joined the band. The group signed a record deal with Chris Blackwell and Island Records Company and debuted commercially with ‘Catch A Fire’ in 1973. The same year, they released their second studio album, ‘Burnin’.
An accident the same year changed his life forever. Chris Blackwell from Island Records refused to sign Tosh for a solo album in 1974 and in response to this, Tosh and Bunny Wailer left ‘The Wailers’, citing Blackwell’s ‘unfair treatment’ as the reason.
In 1976, he released his solo debut album, ‘Legalize It’, under CBS Records. The title track was a hit and reggae music lovers and Rastafarians from across the world began to endorse the single in the album. The next year, he released his second solo album, ‘Equal Rights’.
He formed a Reggae band, ‘Word, Sound and Power’ in 1976. Along with the band members, he toured for the next few years.
In 1978, he signed a deal with Rolling Stones Records and released the album, ‘Bush Doctor’. One of the singles in the album, ‘Don’t Look Back’, which was a cover version that he performed with Mick Jagger, established him as one of the best reggae artists of the period.
In 1979, he released the next album, ‘Mystic Man’ and followed it with ‘Wanted Dread and Alive’ after two years, under the Rolling Stones’ record label.
In 1983, he released the album ‘Mama Africa’. The following year; he went into voluntary exile, looking for the divine advice of medicine men in Africa.
In 1987, after a brief hiatus, it appeared that the artist was having a career recovery, when he released his last studio album, ‘No Nuclear War’. This album won a prominent award the same year.
Major Works
‘Burnin’, released in 1973, was the fourth studio album released by him under Chris Blackwell and ‘The Wailers’. The track, ‘Burnin’ was ranked #151 and #41 on Billboard’s Pop Albums and Black Albums charts. Rolling Stone magazine also rated the alum #319 on the list of ‘500 greatest albums of all time’. Recently, in 2007, the album was added to the ‘Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry’.
Awards & Achievements
His last album, ‘No Nuclear War’, won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Reggae Album’, in 1987.
In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the ‘Order of Merit’, Jamaica’s third highest honor.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1973, while he was driving back home with his girlfriend, Evonne, by his side, a car that was on the wrong side of the road hit his car, killing Evonne and seriously fracturing his skull. He survived from the accident
Peter Tosh had common-law marriage with Andrea Marlene Brown and the couple did not have any children. But Peter had 10 children from previous relationships. The 10 children include 5 sons and 5 daughters.
He was murdered at this residence in Jamaica, by a gang of three men who refused to leave his house unless Tosh gave them money.
As he did not have any money in the house, they refused to leave his residence and continued to torture him. During this time, some of Tosh’s associates had arrived at the scene to congratulate him on his return to Jamaica, unaware of the events unfolding inside. Frustrated, one of the three men from the gang put a gun to Tosh’s head, killing him with the first shot.
The three men also went on to seriously injuring others and killing two DJ’s, Doc Brown and Jeff Dixon.
In 1991, a documentary titled ‘Stepping Razor – Red X’ was released that was based on the artist’s life, music and premature death.
In 2006, it was announced that his wife, Andrea Brown would auction his M16 guitar on eBay, but in 2011, Tosh’s son, Andrew stated the guitar was in care of a close friend.
Trivia
This famous reggae artist was an avid fan of unicycling. He would often ride a unicycle forwards, backwards and hop, entertaining audiences by riding a unicycle during his shows.
During Bob Marley’s concert, ‘One Love Peace Concert’ in 1978, this famous reggae musician gave a lecture about legalizing marijuana for which he was arrested and beaten severely in prison.
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Peter Tosh's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1987 - Grammy Award for Best Reggae Performance | |
Peter Tosh biography timelines
- // 19th Oct 1944Winston Hubert McIntosh was born on October 19, 1944 to parents who were way too young to raise him, in Jamaica. Instead, he was raised by his aunt in Grange Hill.
- // 1962The trio began going to Joe Higgs, their voice tutor and began to hone their individual music talents. They soon realized their dreams and got together to form the band, ‘The Wailers’ in 1962.
- // 1973By the 1970s, a number of other members had joined the band. The group signed a record deal with Chris Blackwell and Island Records Company and debuted commercially with ‘Catch A Fire’ in 1973. The same year, they released their second studio album, ‘Burnin’.
- // 1973 To 2007‘Burnin’, released in 1973, was the fourth studio album released by him under Chris Blackwell and ‘The Wailers’. The track, ‘Burnin’ was ranked #151 and #41 on Billboard’s Pop Albums and Black Albums charts. Rolling Stone magazine also rated the alum #319 on the list of ‘500 greatest albums of all time’. Recently, in 2007, the album was added to the ‘Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry’.
- // 1973In 1973, while he was driving back home with his girlfriend, Evonne, by his side, a car that was on the wrong side of the road hit his car, killing Evonne and seriously fracturing his skull. He survived from the accident
- // 1974An accident the same year changed his life forever. Chris Blackwell from Island Records refused to sign Tosh for a solo album in 1974 and in response to this, Tosh and Bunny Wailer left ‘The Wailers’, citing Blackwell’s ‘unfair treatment’ as the reason.
- // 1976In 1976, he released his solo debut album, ‘Legalize It’, under CBS Records. The title track was a hit and reggae music lovers and Rastafarians from across the world began to endorse the single in the album. The next year, he released his second solo album, ‘Equal Rights’.
- // 1976He formed a Reggae band, ‘Word, Sound and Power’ in 1976. Along with the band members, he toured for the next few years.
- // 1978In 1978, he signed a deal with Rolling Stones Records and released the album, ‘Bush Doctor’. One of the singles in the album, ‘Don’t Look Back’, which was a cover version that he performed with Mick Jagger, established him as one of the best reggae artists of the period.
- // 1978During Bob Marley’s concert, ‘One Love Peace Concert’ in 1978, this famous reggae musician gave a lecture about legalizing marijuana for which he was arrested and beaten severely in prison.
- // 1979In 1979, he released the next album, ‘Mystic Man’ and followed it with ‘Wanted Dread and Alive’ after two years, under the Rolling Stones’ record label.
- // 1983In 1983, he released the album ‘Mama Africa’. The following year; he went into voluntary exile, looking for the divine advice of medicine men in Africa.
- // 1987In 1987, after a brief hiatus, it appeared that the artist was having a career recovery, when he released his last studio album, ‘No Nuclear War’. This album won a prominent award the same year.
- // 1987His last album, ‘No Nuclear War’, won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Reggae Album’, in 1987.
- // 1991In 1991, a documentary titled ‘Stepping Razor – Red X’ was released that was based on the artist’s life, music and premature death.
- // 2006 To 2011In 2006, it was announced that his wife, Andrea Brown would auction his M16 guitar on eBay, but in 2011, Tosh’s son, Andrew stated the guitar was in care of a close friend.
- // 2012In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the ‘Order of Merit’, Jamaica’s third highest honor.
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Peter Tosh's FAQ
What is Peter Tosh birthday?
Peter Tosh was born at 1944-10-19
When was Peter Tosh died?
Peter Tosh was died at 1987-09-11
Where was Peter Tosh died?
Peter Tosh was died in Kingston, Jamaica
Which age was Peter Tosh died?
Peter Tosh was died at age 42
Where is Peter Tosh's birth place?
Peter Tosh was born in Westmoreland, Jamaica
What is Peter Tosh nationalities?
Peter Tosh's nationalities is Jamaican
Who is Peter Tosh spouses?
Peter Tosh's spouses is Andrea
Who is Peter Tosh childrens?
Peter Tosh's childrens is Andrew Tosh
What is Peter Tosh's religion?
Peter Tosh's religion is Rastafarian
What is Peter Tosh's sun sign?
Peter Tosh is Libra
How famous is Peter Tosh?
Peter Tosh is famouse as Reggae Musician