29 Facts About Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.

Peter Tosh was abandoned by his parents and "shuffled among relatives".

Peter Tosh was educated in Bluefields up to age 17, then moved to Kingston to live with his aunt.

Peter Tosh first learned guitar after watching a man in the country play a song that captivated him.

Peter Tosh watched the man play the same song for half a day, memorizing everything his fingers were doing.

Peter Tosh then picked up the guitar and played the song back to the man.

Peter Tosh then changed his name to Peter Tosh and the trio started singing together in 1962.

Peter Tosh returned to Jamaica in early 1967 with a renewed interest in music and a new spirituality.

The Wailers had moved from many producers after 1970 and there were instances where producers would record rehearsal sessions that Tosh did and release them in England under the name "Peter Touch".

In 1973, Peter Tosh was driving home with his girlfriend Evonne when his car was hit by another car driving on the wrong side of the road.

Peter Tosh went on to start a solo career, releasing albums with CBS Records and Rolling Stones Records.

Also in 1976, Peter Tosh organised a backing band, Word, Sound and Power, who were to accompany him on tour for the next few years, and many of whom performed on his albums of this period.

Peter Tosh report being beaten severely while in police custody - resulting in a broken hand and head injuries requiring stitches.

Peter Tosh tried to gain some mainstream success while keeping his militant views, but was only moderately successful, especially when compared to Marley's achievements.

In 1984, after the release of 1983's album Mama Africa, Peter Tosh went into self-imposed exile, seeking the spiritual advice of traditional medicine men in Africa, and trying to free himself from recording agreements that distributed his records in South Africa.

Peter Tosh had been at odds for several years with his label, EMI, over a perceived lack of promotion for his music.

In 1987, Peter Tosh seemed to be having a career revival.

Peter Tosh was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Performance in 1987 for No Nuclear War, his last record.

At some point after his departure from the Wailers, Peter Tosh developed an interest in unicycles and became a unicycle rider, being able to ride forwards and backwards and hop.

Peter Tosh was in a relationship with his wife Marlene Brown for about five years from 1982, she was 21 at the start of the relationship.

Peter Tosh had ten children including Andrew, Jawara, Aldrina and youngest Niambe.

On 11 September 1987, after Peter Tosh returned to his home in Jamaica, a three-man gang came to his house on motorcycles demanding money.

Peter Tosh replied that he did not have any with him, but the gang did not believe him.

The gunmen included chief thug Dennis "Leppo" Lobban, a man whom Peter Tosh had previously befriended and tried to help find work after Lobban's release from a lengthy jail sentence.

Peter Tosh said he did not have any money in the house, after which Lobban and the fellow gunmen began opening fire in a reckless manner.

Tosh's children Andrew Tosh and Niambe McIntosh both praised the emoji in a 2021 BBC interview, with Andrew stating that "[Peter Tosh] wanted [people] to dance to their own awakening".

Peter Tosh's birthday is celebrated there annually with live reggae music.

In October 2012, Peter Tosh was posthumously awarded Jamaica's fourth highest honour, the Order of Merit.

The square is home to the Peter Tosh Museum, opened on Peter Tosh's 72nd birthday on 19 October 2016.