The Re-Birth Of Peter Tosh

Balford Henry, Senior Staff Reporter

October 28, 2000 will be probably the most important date in the posthumous history of the late Peter Tosh. On that date, just over 13 years following the death of this world-famous musician and founding member of the Wailers and a week after his 56th birthday, Tosh's 10 children and their mothers are expected to meet at Belmont, Westmoreland, to discuss the future of his estate.

They will be meeting on the same property on which Tosh's body was buried in a sepulchre in September, 1987. They will probably be happy to realise that at least the grave still stands as a timeless tribute to their great father.

But, the family members should equally be disappointed that the property has fallen into disrepair and certainly not worthy of having his famous bones interred there.

Dave McIntosh, Tosh's second son, who goes by the name 'Dave Tosh', is co-ordinating the reunion. He said it will mark the launch of the future in the critical task of realigning Tosh's heritage with the history of Jamaican music.

According to McIntosh, the intention is to resurrect Intel Diplo, the company Tosh had formed to handle his music after he split from his Wailers' pals Bob Marley and Bunny Wailers in 1976. The new company will perform similar tasks to those being performed by the Bob Marley Foundation for Marley's estate, including controlling the copyright of his music and his image, internationally.

"I am trying to make sure now that nothing new is released unless we give permission. We wouldn't be able to do that ourselves, but we will try to get the right people in the right places to ensure that the estate maximises the benefits of our father's work," he explained.

October 28 will be nine days after what would have been Tosh's 56th birthday and 13 years and seven weeks after his untimely death at the hands of gunmen who invaded his home at Plymouth Avenue, Barbican. It will also mark a period of remembrance in Westmoreland, beginning with a tribute to Tosh at MXIII in the West End on October 19, the birthdate of the reggae icon.

News of Tosh's death flashed on NBC Television in the USA on September 11, as the first item on the 6:00 p.m. news. It showed respect for Tosh's international stature. However, the posthumous effect has been, at least, disappointing.

While Bob Marley has gone on to greater international recognition and platinum album sales, Tosh's estate has gathered comparative crumbs. The main income has come from the recent closure of Tuff Gong Records, the company originally formed by the three Wailers, but which faded into obscurity after the split in the 1970s.

A film, 'Stepping Razor: Red X', produced by Jamaican Wayne Jobson and based on Tosh's life story as taped by him on ordinary 60-minute cassettes at home in Barbican, as well as a couple of compilation albums which failed to top Billboard's Top 15 Reggae Album chart, represent the new material which have been done since his death.

McIntosh expects that will change within the next few months, with a windfall of about US$2 million from the settlement of the Tuff Gong Records' litigations recently, which could be the basis of the new promotional effort.

He said the family is satisfied with the settlement. The estate's U.S. commitments are currently in the hands of court-appointed administrators in New York, but the family has retained the services of reggae-friendly American lawyer Kendal Minter to oversee the foreign element.

McIntosh said that although he is not too pleased with how the legacy has been handled, he has to share the blame with his siblings for their lack of commitment: "I had my own life to live. But, now I understand the value of the assets involved and I plan to play my part," said the Trench Town-born, Houston-raised accountant.

He believes that, despite how it might appear on the surface, there is general respect for Tosh worldwide waiting to find expression.

"When we establish this entity to promote him and his music, it will reveal how much the public wants to hear and know more about him, but first we need to put in place a plan to do it."

McIntosh criticised the Government as "hypocrites and parasites," in terms of how they have approached Tosh's heritage.

But he sings the praises of Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, for supporting Tosh's legacy:

"I heard that he was going to lecture on Tosh at the University and I ducked in through a side door to listen. I was really overwhelmed by what he had to say about him."

McIntosh said the first thing the new Intel Diplo company will have to work on, is repairing the Belmont property.

"The sepulchre is here, but the property is in a deplorable condition," he said. The family hopes to develop the site into another tourist attraction in the western part of Jamaica.

Western Bureau:

Dave Tosh, son of former Wailer, Peter Tosh, is pleased with the order granted by the Supreme Court to wind up Tuff Gong Records, the company jointly founded by reggae legends Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh.

Dave Tosh, one of Peter's 10 children said: "It (the court issue) has been going on for a long time so an amicable settlement was always in the best interest of all concerned."

With monies from the court settlement expected to come to his family soon, the young Tosh is quite confident that the unfinished theme park to honour his father's memory, which has been in limbo for some time, will now be completed.

"Work should resume on the theme park soon because as a family we are totally commitment to erecting a suitable monument to my father's memory," said Dave

"As a family, we fully recognised the greatness of our dad and we want to see his memory preserved."

In his bid to keep his father's life and work in the forefront, Dave (Tosh) has now become an active partner with promoter Worrell King in the staging of, 'Tribute To Peter Tosh," which is set for the MXIII Lawn, Negril, on Saturday, October 21.

"I really appreciate what Mr. King has been doing to honour the man (Peter) and I am not only endorsing the project this year, I am also working alongside him to ensure its success," said Dave. His grandmother, Alvira Coke and his son Andrew - a reggae singer like his dad, have both been active supporters of the project since its inception.

In regards to the line-up of artistes for this year's 'Tribute', the young Tosh said he was extremely satisfied. According to him, while he is not directly involved in the music industry, he has a fairly good understanding of his father's music and the type of music he would appreciate.

"My father was a man who sang among injustice and was always seeking to strengthen the oppressed," said Dave. "The artiste on the tribute line-up all carry a similar message so naturally you could say they are the ones carrying on the work he (Peter) started.

"I don't think my grandmother will be there because she is getting on in years," said Dave, of his dad's 80 odd years old mother. "My father is her only child and over the years she has always paid an active role in 'tribute.'