Hubert Winston McIntosh (October 19, 1944 – September 11, 1987), better known by his stage name Peter Tosh, was a talented reggae multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist from Jamaica. In addition to being a founding member of The Wailers, Tosh would go on to distinguish himself as one of the biggest reggae artists of the 1970s and 1980s.

Many of the songs that he wrote for the Wailers were influenced by the prevailing political and economic repression. Sung with his rich baritone, Wailer hits like “No Sympathy,” “400 Years,” and “Stop That Train" all reflect his response to the political and social situation of the oppressed. He also co-wrote one of the most celebrated reggae anthems, “Get Up, Stand Up,” with Bob Marley.

By the time The Wailers' released their 1973 album, Burnin', Tosh had begun to chafe at Island Records insistence on marketing the group as Bob Marley & The Wailers. Resentful of the perception that he was merely backing up his old friend (Bob Marley), Tosh decided to become a solo artist. His 1976 debut album, Legalize It, spent two weeks in the Billboard 200 and even got platinum certified. Its title track became an international mantra as it espoused decriminalizing the use and possession of marijuana.

Tosh was murdered by robbers at the age of 42, he died from gunshot wounds sustained during a home invasion in 1987. In 2012, Tosh was posthumously awarded Jamaica’s Order of Merit, and a museum commemorating his life has been open to the public in Kingston, Jamaica since 2016.

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