Eric Clapton, Ben Harper, Cypress Hill, the late Jerry Garcia and the three former members of Guns n' Roses -- Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum -- lead the list of contributors to a tribute to reggae legend Peter Tosh, due at the end of the year. Jeffrey Gaines, Sean Paul, Buddy Miles, veteran rock session guitarist David Lindley, Tosh's son Andrew and former Tosh guitarist Donald Kinsey are also confirmed for the collection, which will be produced by Atlanta promoter Mike Malott and Tosh's eldest son Dave.

Malott, who had promoted Andrew Tosh earlier in his career, devised the project after a visit to the Tosh's neglected gravesite in tiny Belmot, Jamaica. "There's Marley shirts in every craft shop in Jamaica," Malott says, "but Tosh has never got the recognition he deserved. He was a music legend and an activist who spoke out and stood up for himself and his country."

Tosh was a founding member of the Wailers, the seminal Kingston, Jamica, reggae combo, but always maintained solo interests. He split out on his own for good in 1973, when tensions with fellow Wailer Bob Marley ran too high. As a full-time solo artist, he signed with Columbia in 1975 and broke through with Legalize It in 1976. In 1978, he signed with the Rolling Stones' record label and opened for them on a summer tour of the U.S. Tosh remained active through the mid-Eighties, releasing his last album, No Nuclear War in 1987. That year, Tosh was shot and killed at his Kingston home.

The rare Clapton track on the tribute, "Whatcha Gonna Do," was recorded in 1974 and actually features Tosh on backing vocals. The track from Jerry Garcia and his band, "Stop That Train," was recorded in 1991. The rest of the record will feature new covers of classic Tosh material. Few artists have committed to a particular song, but Cypress Hill have already claimed "Legalize It."

The project will raise funds to restore Tosh's gravesite, partially eroded by the harsh sea air, and build a library and medical clinic on the same property, as well as finish the Peter Tosh Museum that was started there in 1995. Additional funds will benefit a youth music initiative in Jamaica; even though they couldn't contribute to the album, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, No Doubt, Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, Chrissie Hynde and others have all donated items to the auction that will benefit that cause.

AUGUSTIN SEDGEWICK
(February 25, 2003)