Page 43 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2017
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about Peter tosh By Ryan Dobby
Peter Tosh was born Winston Hurbert the entire world. Several months later, he was
McIntosh, on October 19, 1944, and was arrested by police in Kingston, held captive
murdered during a home invasion on without being charged, and beaten within an
September 11, 1987. His legacy includes inch of his life. Nevertheless, he persisted to
being a founding member of the ground- tell the truth as he saw it, and make music that
breaking reggae group The Wailers, along called for all people to fight for equal rights
with Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley. His first and justice.
solo album in 1976, entitled Legalize It, As the first artist signed to the Rolling Stones
became an anthem for the so-called counter record label in 1978, he had a top hit “(You
culture, and he was one of the first outspoken Gotta Walk) Don’t Look Back,” performed with
advocates of cannabis legalization. The song Mick Jagger. He toured around the world,
“Legalize It” was banned in Jamaica and in and to this day continues to have a devout
many countries around the world for its following among his loyal fan base.
revolutionary message.
In 1987, six months after his death, Peter won
During the now-famous One Love Peace a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album,
Concert in 1978, Peter went on stage and railed No Nuclear War. During his entire adult life,
against the repressive Jamaican political and Peter was a true social and political activist
social system, and lectured the government and outspoken critic of injustice, while being
dignitaries in the audience on cannabis a champion for equal rights, justice and
legalization. He then lit up a huge spliff and cannabis legalization.
broke into his anthem, “Legalize It,” shocking
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