Update No. 20
Volume 3: Issue 1: February 2003

TOSH TRIBUTE ALBUM PLANNED
January 5, 2003

Plans were announced today for a tribute album to honor the legacy of Grammy Award winning reggae superstar, Peter Tosh.

Tosh, who was tragically murdered during a robbery in his home in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1987, was one of the founding members of the famed Jamaican reggae band The Wailers, and later went on to pursue a successful solo career, producing a string of hits and earning a Grammy Award for his reggae album, No Nuclear War, just after his death in 1987.

Tosh was also an outspoken civil rights activist for his country, demanding government assistance for the poor, and centering his songs such social issues as anti-apartheid against oppression and equal rights for all. The album will not only pay tribute to the late artist, but revenue from its sales will also provide the funds needed for the repair and renovation of Peter Tosh's Mausoleum in Belmont, Jamaica.

Also planned is the completion of the Tosh Museum, which was partially erected back in 1995, and construction of a medical clinic, a library, and a gift shop. The buildings will be erected on Tosh's burial site in Belmont, which is also the home of Tosh's mother Alvera Coke.

Veteran promoter Mike Malott, who conceived the album project and will be working closely with Tosh's son's Dave and Andrew, plans to release the album on the Tosh family's Tosh-Intel-Diplo record label.

Although contributors are still being solicited, several artists have expressed their interest in contributing a track to the album including multi-platinum Cypress Hill, multi-Grammy award winning artist Speech (Arrested Development), blues guitarist extraordinaire Jimmie Vaughn, Bad Brains, Sean Paul, Bob Andy, and international reggae great Lasana Bandele, who is also working on the project with Malott along with Dave Tosh.

The Foundation is hoping to be able to include a 1974 un-released Eric Clapton version of Peter Tosh's Whatcha Gonna Do which actually features Peter Tosh performing background vocals. They are also interested in using a version of Tosh's Stop That Train recorded by the late Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead). The foundation is also hoping to interest artists such as, Lenny Kravitz, Nine Inch Nails, Snoop Dog, and Carlos Santana as well as others to contribute their version of their favorite Peter Tosh song to be included on the album.

Malott will seek memorabilia and signed photos from artists unable to contribute a track to the project. The items will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Peter Tosh Legacy Foundation.

The concept for the album was conceived by Malott shortly after he and his fiancee moved to Negril, Jamaica in early September. Malott, a Peter Tosh fan, visited the burial site in Belmont. Badly in need of repair, the Mausoleum's cinder-block walls stood partially erected and unchanged for years. It had been vandalized, and several items including Peter's own grave marker had been stolen. Very little money had trickled into the estate since 1987.

Malott contacted Peter's son, Andrew Tosh, whom Malott had promoted in the 90's, to discuss his desire to contribute towards the legacy of such a prolific and controversial artist. Malott discussed his idea for creating a Peter Tosh tribute album featuring top name rock & roll and reggae artists.

The project would generate revenue needed to repair and restore the mausoleum, to complete the museum and gift shop. Plans for a library and medical clinic had been previously proposed by brothers Andrew and David Tosh. Construction plans are currently being discussed with Norris Bell, a construction specialist from the nearby town of Sheffield.

Malott has also recently formed a partnership with international reggae star Lasana Bandale to create the Peter Tosh Legacy Foundation, which will organize and oversee the renovation project, along with Dave Tosh who will co-produce the project with the production team. Bandele, who wrote and composed the hit singles "Living in Shacks" and "Storitela," and contributed to the CD "Reggae Celebrates the Grateful Dead," comes from the parish of St. James in Jamaica and now lives in San Francisco, California.

The Foundation will also work to further Peter Tosh's dream to provide food to the hungry, medical assistance to the poor, and emergency funding and grants to assist in the start-up of Rastafarian-owned businesses in Jamaica.

The foundation also plans to produce a three-day music festival honoring the late music hero in Belmont to coincide with the completion of renovation. The event would feature a wide array of top reggae and rock artists and will draw fans from all over the world. Worrell King, who heads up King of Kings Promotions based in Jamaica, will work with the foundation to produce the massive event. Malott, who has promoted several reggae shows and made several trips to the island since the mid eighties, is overwhelmed by the opportunity to do something that will impact so many lives and Jamaica in such a positive way.

Along with preserving the legacy of not only Peter Tosh's name but his work as well, Malott exclaims that "I love Jamaica, and the people of Jamaica, I know I am at home here and I am greatly honored to have the opportunity to do this."


MARLEY TAPE AUCTIONED
A 1968 cassette recording featuring a 23 year old Bob Marley exceeded all expectations at a Christies auction on December 20th 2002.

The recording, known as the "Bob Marley BronxJam" was made by songwriter Jimmy Norman in his New York apartment in early 1968, and attracted more attention at the sale than memorabilia belonging to the Beatles, Buddy Holly and Bruce Springsteen.

The asking price for the tape was US$10-15,000, but the hammer finally fell at a staggering US$26,290, with the spoils going to ananonymous bidder.

"There seemed to be (a lot of interest) as it sold for much more than its pre- sale estimate," Margaret Barrett, head of the Popular Arts division at Christies told the Jamaican Observer.

American entertainment lawyer Whitney Broussard told The New York Times that for a record from the tape to be released, a series of rights issues would have to be resolved, like obtaining permission from the owner of the copyrights on the songs and from the owner of the Marley estate.

See December 2002 update for pre-sale story


CARLTON BARRETT HONOURED BY MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE
From full-page review by Adam Budofsky of Exodus by Bob Marley and the Wailers, Modern Drummer magazine, March 2003, page 148

"Theres a point in Natural Mystic, the lead-off track of Exodus, were we hear an almost sub-sonic bass drum note accent (on the 1, of course). It's a subtle touch, no doubt, but an effective one, and a telling one......

The band's smash American crossover, Exodus features several classic cuts.....each of which is brimming with invention, soul, and big, open sonic spaces. Drummer Carlton Barrett's beats are some of the most profound ever recorded. Steady, playful, dramatic, teasing.

Carly's licks of course cannot be separated from the rest of the instruments here....Still, close inspection of Barrett's kit playing is research worthy of a college degree...."

10th ANNUAL MARLEY FESTIVAL
"LET'S GET TOGETHER" SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2003
AT BAYFRONT PARK
301 North BISCAYNE BLVD
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Outdoors, in an ampitheater next to Biscayne Bay
1 PM to midnight

FEATURING:

Mother Cedella Marley Booker
Stephen "Ragga" Marley
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley
Julian Marley
Capleton
Bunny Wailer
Steel Pulse
420 Funk Mob with George Clinton
Inner Circle

On Sale At All Ticketmaster Locations
$23.00 (Not Including Service Charges)
+ 4 cans of food day of festival for local charity
DADE: (305) 358-5885
BROWARD: (954) 523-3309
PALM BEACH: (561) 966-3309


BUSH TELEDOCTOR RADIO
Remember, our good friend and website contributor Alvaro Gaynicotche now broadcasts a show dedicated to Bob & the Wailers every Saturday on X FM -100.3 Montevideo,Uruguay.

X FM is broadcoast on the Internet, so you can hear it from all over the world. The Uruguay time for the show is : Saturday, 7:00 PM to 9:00PM.

People can contact Alvaro at : robertovive@portalx.com.uy
And you can hear by clicking "X FM"" on this site:
www.todoradio.com/uruguay.html
¡Roberto Vive!


Previous Updates:

2002
Number 19, December 2002
Number 18, August 2002    Number 17, July 2002
Number 16, April 2002    Number 15, March 2002
Number 14, February 2002     Number 13, January 2002

2001
Number 12, December 2001     Number 11, November 2001
Number 10, October 2001     Number 9, September 2001
Number 8, August 2001    Number 7, July 2001
Number 6, June 2001     Number 5, May 2001
Number 4, April 2001    Number 3, March 2001
Number 2, February 2001    Number 1, January 2001


Please visit these Wailers/reggae sites:

The OFFICIAL Wailers website: www.wailers.com

www.bobmarley.freeserve.co.uk     Django! Ska, Rocksteady & Reggae

http://robertnestamarley.free.fr     The Wailers News

www.melodymakers.de     bobmarleyshop.com

Bob Marley Magazine     http://go.to/bobmarleyshows


Contact: jahlight@wailers.co.uk