Reggae icon Peter Tosh established himself as a successful solo artist, and along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the group The Wailers. As reggae lovers all over the world remember his life and music, the National Weekly looks shares a few little-known facts about the music legend.
Tosh was named after Winston Churchill
Peter Tosh was born Winston Hubert McIntosh on October 19, 1944 in Grange Hill, Jamaica. As a child he was given the nickname of Peter and other children referred to him as “McIntouch” for his proclivity to touch and handle things. Tosh dropped the “McIn-” from his surname and recorded early in his career as Peter Touch.
He was buddies with The Rolling Stones
Tosh was closely associated with famed British band throughout his career, because he was the only reggae artist signed to the group’s label (from 1978-1981). He also opened for the Stones throughout their 1978 US tour.
He wrote many of Bob’s Hits
As a member of The Wailers, with fellow reggae musicians Bob Marley and Bunny Wailers, Tosh wrote many of The Wailers’ hit songs including “Get Up, Stand Up,” “400 Years,” and “No Sympathy.”
Tosh was a better player than you, even as a kid
Peter Tosh picked up on music at a young age and taught himself how to play the guitar after watching a man in the country play, memorizing everything his fingers were doing.
Tosh made his final farewell in JA
Peter Tosh’s final public performance in his native Jamaica was in December 1983 at the Pulse Starjam Reggae Superjam Festival, held at the National Arena in Kingston. The concert also featured performances by fellow artistes Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Beres Hammond.
