#muziekvanalletijden From the time of the Wailers

In the early 1960s, Peter Tosch met Bob Marley and Bunny Livingston and taught Marley to play guitar. In 1962 he was the driving force behind the founding of The Wailing Wailers, they had a big ska hit with their first single Simmer Down, and had a number of successes for Braithwaite for Kelso and Smith left the group in 1965. Marley was in the States. When Marley returned, all three of them became very active in the Rastafari movement. Shortly afterwards, they changed their name to “The Wailers”.

They left the fast ska pace and took a slower pace. They also put political and social messages in their texts. The Wailers wrote several songs for American singer Johnny Nash. Then they started working with producer Lee Perry and recorded some of the first reggae hits, such as Soul Rebel, Duppy Conqueror and Small Axe. After the joining of bass player Aston Barret and his brother, drummer Carlton in 1970, The Wailers became Caribbean superstars. They signed a contract with Island and made their debut album Catch a Fire in 1972, followed by Burnin' the following year.

Solo career

In 1974, McIntosh left The Wailers. He made recordings under the name Peter Tosh and released his solo debut Legalize It in 1976. The title track soon became a battle song for the marijuana movement and it was asked a lot at his concerts. Tosh also became a target for the Jamaican police because of his militant approach. In 1977 Equal Rights was released. His text “I don't want no peace, I want equal rights and justice!” would become a battle cry for the oppressed of the world.

Bush Doctor (1978), Mystic Man (1979), and Wanted: Dread or Alive followed. After Mama Africa was released in 1983, Tosh voluntarily went into exile.

Shortly after his last album No Nuclear Waruit—released in 1987, Tosh was murdered at his own house when he refused to give money to three men. R.I.P