Toshi and Pete
Photo © 2000 Jim Dirden
To Be Used With Written Permission Only
We talk alot about Pete, and rightly so, but if it hadn't been for his wife, Toshi, Pete would not be here now. I remember when, after concerts or other events, everybody wanted a piece of Pete. "There is a party at my house, come on over Pete!" "We're going home Peter," said Toshi. The left has used up so many of it's artists and Toshi refused to let Pete be used up. Hooray for Toshi!
One story goes that when she was congratulated for the work Pete did, she said, "That's Pete's work, I'm a potter." She was also a great cook, if Shad roe doesn't sound terrific to you, try Toshi's. She raised the children when Pete was mostly on the road because he was blacklisted.
Pete acknowledges this about his wife but also he is more aware of the role women play in a good world. On Amy Goodman's show, July 3, 2006, he said, "I believe that women working with children will get men to wake up to what a foolish thing it is to seek power and glory and money in their lives."
Let's give credit where it's due, the NOBLE peace prize goes to Toshi.
Eleanor Walden, October, 2007