Peter Tosh

Photo from "Live & Dangerous" (1976)

BIOGRAPHY

Winston Hubert McIntosh was born 1944, October 19, in Church Lincoln, Westmoreland, Jamaica.
Winston lived with his aunt in Savanna-La-Mar, Negril, Jamaica.

Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, Winston Hubert "Peter" McIntosh, Neville O'Riley "Bunny" Livingston and Franklin Delano Alexander "Junior" Braithwaite learned breath control, harmony techniques, music theory and songwriting from Jamaican singer / arranger / composer Joe Higgs. Higgs gave free music lessons at his yard on Third Street in Trench Town, Jamaica. He was a devout rasta.
Bob, Peter, Bunny, Junior, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Green joined to start "The Teenagers" vocal group in 1963. The group was renamed "The Wailing Rudeboys", "The Wailing Wailers" and last "The Wailers".

Peter started his solo career in 1971. He continued working with The Wailers.
Peter started the "Intel Diplo HIM" label in 1971.
Peter was beaten and knocked out by policemen at his house in 1972. He awakened at the Kingston Public Hospital.
The Wailers signed a deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records and recorded the album "Catch A Fire" in 1972. "Catch A Fire" was the first international Reggae album.

Classic Albums: Catch A Fire

Peter left The Wailers in 1973. Chris Blackwell refused to issue his first solo album.
Peter and his girlfriend Evonne had a car accident on the Spanish Town Road in 1973. They were going home after visiting Bob at Hope Road. Their car crashed with a vehicle that was driving on the wrong side of the road. Peter's skull was severely fractured. Evonne was in coma for 3 weeks before she died.
Peter performed at the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica in 1978, April. He lit up a spliff onstage. Peter harangued Prime Minister Michael Manley and opposition leader Edward Seaga for persecuting ghetto people for smoking marijuana. He asked why marijuana was not legal in Jamaica.
Peter was arrested and jailed for marijuana possession in 1978. He was beaten by 6 to 7 policemen for over 90 minutes. Peter required 30 stitches to close the wounds in his skull.
Peter signed a deal with Rolling Stones Records in 1978. Peter and Mick Jagger recorded the song "Don't Look Back" for Peter's "Bush Doctor" album.

Peter signed a deal with EMI Records in 1983.
Peter was nominated for the Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 1984. The other nominees were Yellowman, Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse and Black Uhuru. Black Uhuru won the Grammy.
Peter, Bunny, Junior and Vision recorded songs for The Wailers' "The Never Ending Wailers" album in 1986.
Peter was shot twice in the forehead by Dennis "Leppo" Lobban in 1987, September 11. Leppo and 2 unidentified gunmen entered Peter's house and demanded money. There were Peter, his wife Marlene Brown, Carlton Davis, Wilton Brown and Michael Robinson. Jeff and Joy Dixon arrived later. Leppo shot Marlene and Joy (both survived). Then he shot Peter. The 2 unidentified gunmen shot Wilton Brown (killing him instantly) and Jeff Dixon (mortally wounding him). Peter died on arrival at the University Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. Leppo was an old Wailers' "friend" Peter helped frequently.
Peter's "No Nuclear War" album won the 1987 Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 1988.