The reggae community is this morning mourning the loss of singer Cecil “Skelly” Spence, founding member of Israel Vibration at the age of 70.
Spence was a member of the band Hot Lickers which gave him television appearances from as early as age twelve. He also played in the Jamaican wheelchair basketball team but due to discrimination, he was asked to leave in 1969 after adopting the Rastafarian faith.
Along with Albert “Apple” Craig, himself deceased in 2020 and Lacelle “Wiss” Bulgin, the trio started Israel Vibration after suffering from childhood polio. The roots reggae band went on to reign the 1970s after meeting at the Mona Rehabilitation Clinic.
Their 49 years career spawns 23 studio albums and 4 live albums.
