Peter Tosh's Biography
Trenchtown
Born in 1944, Peter Tosh remains as one of the most commited reggae artists of his time. He spent his childhood in one of the hottest ghettos of Kingston: TrenchTown. His father assumed, a pastor, refuses to acknowledge him. Peter holds a bad memory and partly explains his reputation as skinned alive by the lack of a father. His character earned him from the outset the nickname of "Stepping Razor".
Joe Higgs
It's his guitar teacher, the famous Joe Higgs, who is going to present to him,in the early 60's, Bunny Livingston and Bob Marley. They form in 1962 the Wailing Wailers along with Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith. Thus begins the first part of the artistic life of Peter Tosh: the Wailers. Their first tube, "Simmer Down" is still very ska, but will enable them to get started. In 1965, Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith leave the group. A year later, Bob leaves with his mother for the USA. It's at his return in 1967, that he joined the movement rasta with his two accomplices. Lee Perry will make them record a number of titles, which have now become classics: "Soul Rebel," "Duppy Conqueror" and "Small Axe". Over time, they will be joined by Aston "Familiyman" Barret and his brother Carlton. in the wake of this they sign a contract with Island that leads to the albums: Catch a Fire in 1972 or Burnin Soul in 1973.
The split
Unfortunately, he lost his girlfriend in a car accident in which he is left heart-broken. This is the beginning of a darker period of the life of Peter Tosh. Injured seriously, he is recovering gradually. Having composed his first solo album in late 1973 - 1974, he will propose it to the boss of Island: Chris Blackwell. The latter does not want to produce it, Peter leaves Island and the Wailers to devote himself to his solo career. It is true that for some time there was water in the gas with his two musician buddies, especially concerning the topics and some lyrics. You can not hide the fact that Peter criticized, at the time, violently Bob, reproaching him for having success because of his origins (the father of Bob Marley was white).
His Solo Carriere
The second part of his career is solo. He founded his own label: Intel Diplo HIM (abbreviation for Intelligent Diplomat His Imperial Majesty). And in 1976 he released "Legalise It 'an album worship, returned to the legend of reggaemusic. It was on the following albums that he would introduce topics that are dear to him. Equality, justice between white and black are his hobbyhorses as evidenced by his album "Equal Right". His words sometimes violent, and often critical of the police, earned him a certain repression on the part of the latter. It is in true militant style that he composes his following albums: Bush Doctor released in 1978, on the label of Mick Jagger, Rolling Stone Records. This album was a commercial success. Then, Mystic Man is produced in 1979, Wanted: Dread or Alive, in 1980, the same label. But these two albums will not equal the success of the first. Then he released Mama Africa in 1983. The Jamaican people had truly found their leader at a time where Bob Marley made international tours that moved away from his original audience. It was in 1983 that he went to discover Africa, the continent of which spoke Repatriation. In 1987 he released "No War", he is murdered in his home. He will therefore never know that he won the 1st Grammy Awards category for best reggae album. Strangely, only one of his killers is found, who explained at the time the reason for murder : a simple request for money that Peter did not want to lend. Peter Tosh joins the legend of artist martyrs. Too early departed
Peter Tosh
Joe Higgs
Pubs
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh - Zürich - June 10th, 1979
