The founder of the iconic Wailers, and later a star himself, Tosh was a razor-sharp lyricist with a soft, funny side. As a singer, musician, composer and rebel, Peter Tosh was a key figure in the Jamaican music scene. He was also a founding member and solo artist of the Wailers. Tosh toured with the Rolling Stones, had an international hit duet with Mick Jagger and then toured again to the same rapturous audience as the headlining act. Although his words caused a commotion at the One Peace concert due to their sexism, Tosh never hid his true feelings, unlike fellow Wailer Bob Marley. Winston Hubert McIntosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, on October 19, 1944. He left his home in Grange Hill, Jamaica at the age of 15 to seek a better life. He arrived in Kingston at the tenement yard of Joe Higgs, where he joined other young singers who were eager to learn from him. Bunny, Bob Marley and Junior Braithwaite were among these young wannabes. The four of them, supported by Cherry Green and Beverley Kelly, teamed up initially as the Teenagers, before eventually becoming the Wailers. The group was immediately successful with their debut single “Simmer Down”, which was a huge hit and launched the band’s career. Tosh’s talents didn’t stop at his singing. He was also a great guitarist. His playing was first exposed in 1963 by the Wailers on “I’m Coming Home”. Bunny Livingston and Tosh were also gifted songwriters, which helped the band to survive Marley’s 1966 hiatus. After Braithwaite Green, Kelso and Green left, the Wailers were reduced to a three-piece. Constance “Dream”, Walker and the rest of the Wailers continued to release singles that were credited to Livingston, Tosh, and the Wailers. Over the next year, Tosh’s dance-friendly single “Hoot Nanny Hoot”, “The Jerk”, a cover Sir Lancelot’s calypso song “Shame and Scandal within the Family,” and the R were released.
