Dear Editor,

There is no need to pit any reggae artiste against the other since it is the varieties of styles and vocals that present the colourful array of sounds in the musical garden called reggae music.

However, there were apparently some marked differences that separated Bob Marley and Peter Tosh from each other — not only because of the radicalism that is often associated with Peter Tosh, since songs like Teach the Children the Truth and similar revolutionary-style music showed a bold and dynamic side of Marley.

But, generally, Tosh seemed to have been inherently more lyrically adamant and unrelenting. He seemed to possess a militant fierceness that may have pushed the envelope and got him brutally beaten up by the police at one stage. However, Marley was and still is the people’s artiste and the pop star that the public finds convenient to quote over and over again.

Marley had an immediate crowd appeal, with songs such an One Love and other catchy tunes like Three Little Birds. Yet, with all Marley’s popularity, even to the present day, Tosh was the unorthodox sage that challenged the establishment and traditions with songs such as No Nuclear War. The album of the same name won him the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1988. Its relevance lies not in what may be described as a comfortable theme, but is significant to the current tension and chess game being played out between warring nations.

Possibly, those who judge at the Grammy’s do not just look for a nice, memorable song or album but one that pushes the boundaries somewhat — maybe a little uncommon, rare, or even atypical creation — whether in lyrics, vocals, or possibly a combination of each.

Homer Sylvester

New York

h2sylvester@gmail.com