Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 19, 1944, in Westmoreland, Jamaica, was a renowned reggae composer, vocalist, and activist. Named after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Tosh was abandoned by his parents, James McIntosh and Alvera Coke, and raised by his aunt in Grange Hill. At 16, Tosh moved to Kingston's Trench Town, where he supported himself by selling sugarcane juice. He was already involved in his local church, singing in the choir, and had learned to play the organ and guitar. Tosh developed a love for R&B and doo-wop by listening to U.S. radio stations.
In 1963, Tosh co-founded the Wailers band in Kingston with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. As the only member who could play instruments, Tosh taught the others and helped shape their sound into a socially conscious, reggae-influenced beat rooted in Rastafarianism. Critics often credit the Wailers with pioneering reggae music.
Tosh launched his solo career in 1976 with the release of his debut album "Legalize It!," advocating for the legalization of cannabis. Though banned from Jamaican radio, the album reached no. 199 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and sold over a million copies, becoming his most acclaimed work. Key tracks included "Igziabeher," "Ketchy Shuby," and the title track "Legalize It." That same year, Tosh formed the Reggae Band Word, Sound, and Power, and in 1977, he released his second solo album, "Equal Rights," solidifying his status as a human rights activist for black dignity and racial pride.
Tosh's subsequent albums saw varying degrees of success: "Bush Doctor" (1978) peaked at no. 104 on the Billboard 200; "Mystic Man" (1979) reached no. 123; "Wanted Dread and Alive" (1981) hit no. 91; "Mama Africa" (1983) climbed to no. 59; and "Captured Live" (1984) peaked at no. 152 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Recording. In 1987, Tosh won the Grammy for Best Reggae Recording for his album "No Nuclear War."
A devout Rastafarian and father of ten, Peter Tosh's life was tragically cut short on September 11, 1987, when he was shot by three gunmen at his home. He passed away at the University of the West Indies Hospital in Kingston at the age of 42.
In 2012, Peter Tosh was posthumously honored with the Jamaican Order of Merit, recognizing his extraordinary talent as a musician, performer, and critical thinker.