Stepping Razor

Winston Herbert McIntosh - better known as Peter Tosh - died 25 years ago this month, ironically on September 11,1987, but not before leaving an indelible mark on reggae and Rastafarianism. His authoritative voice and solid musicianship are reflected in reggae anthems like "Get Up, Stand Up", "Legalize It" , or "400 Years."

Tosh got his start singing on streetcorners in Kingston with Robert Nesta Marley - BobMarley - and Neville O'Reilly Livingston - Bunny Wauiler - finally forming the band "Wailing Wailers" in 1964 under the tutelage of vocal teacher Joe Higgs. Apparently, Tosh was essential to the band because he was the only one who could play a musical instrument! The group scored with their ska classic"Simmer Down" before splitting up in 1965. The Wailers lineup didn't fully materialize until 1970, when brothers drummer Carlton Barrett and bassist Aston Barrett joined Tosh, Marley and Bunny.

Tosh's signature is all over the Wailers' music, in songs like "Stop That Train", "Small Axe", "Duppy Conqueror" , "No Sympathy" and his theme song"Stepping Razor"("I'm like a stepping razor/Better watch my size/I'm dan-ger-ous/Dan-ger-uos!"). Unfortunately, his life took a turn for the worse when an accident in Jamaica killed his girlfriend in 1973, leaving Tosh with a fractured skull. This reportedly made him more difficult to deal with, possibly leading to Tosh's decision to pursue a solo career in 1974.

In 1976, Peter Tosh released his best known song "Legalize It" on CBS Records, which quickly became the  anthem of pot smokers worldwide, followed by "Bush Doctor" in 1978 on Rolling Stones Records. Tosh and Mick Jagger had an instant hit with their duet on "Don't Look Back", elevating Tosh's status and briefly dominating FM airplay. Some of his best cuts - in my humble opinion - are on 1981's "Wanted Dread and Alive", like the title cut , "Coming in Hot",or "The Poor Man Feel It". I even made sure I went to a reggae shop in Montego Bay just to get a Tosh CD since my vinyl version was long gone.

Apparently, Tosh had just returned to Jamaica in 1987 when a gang of three men showed up at his house, demanding money. Although he protested that he was broke, the trio tortured Tosh for several hours before finally shooting him and two other men who, ironically, had shown up to welcome Tosh home to Jamaica. In August of this year, Peter Tosh was awarded the Order of Merit, Jamaica's fourth highest honour.

Peter Tosh was self made and pioneered a new musical form that grew to a global phenomenon - not bad for a poor kid from Grange Hall.