Sir Curtly Ambrose hails legend Peter Tosh

St John's, Antigua:

Sir Curtly Ambrose is known across the world as one of the most fearsome bowlers of his time. Now that he has retired from the game of cricket, he has found more time for his other passion - music. Ambrose is a noted bass guitarist and singer with his band, Spirited, which has been in existence for nine years. Spirited is regarded as one of Antigua and Barbuda's top reggae bands.

The tall, slender former pace bowler took to the stage with the Spirited band to entertain the crowd at the Cricket West Indies Regional Super50 Festival at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in St John's, Antigua, on Tuesday night. During the performance, he decided to put his bass guitar down and pick up the microphone to pay tribute to reggae icon Peter Tosh. Ambrose gave a rendition of Tosh's hit Equal Rights.

Ambrose told THE WEEKEND STAR that Tosh was a very big influence on him, especially at a time in Windies cricket when the team was regarded as a symbol of regional unity and black pride.

During the 1970s, '80s, and early '90s, the Windies cricket team represented resistance to racial injustice taking place against the black race around the world, including apartheid in South Africa.

"Let me first say that when it comes to reggae music, I believe that Bob Marley is the greatest, but at the same time, we all have our favourites," Ambrose shared.

"Peter Tosh has always been my favourite. I just like his style of music," Ambrose said.

Ambrose said that he relates to Tosh because of his resoluteness in his beliefs.

"He was very militant, and never afraid to sing what he felt was right," he said. "I like that about him. He'll always be my favourite reggae artiste of all time. I've never met him, unfortunately, but he's my all-time favourite," the once fearsome paceman said.