Israel Vibration

Biography

Israel Vibration is a Jamaican roots reggae harmony group formed by Lascelle 'Wiss' Bulgin (born 1955), Albert 'Apple Gabriel' Craig (born 1955), and Cecil 'Skelly' Spence (born 1952), who all contracted polio during a 1950s epidemic in Jamaica and met as children at the Mona Rehabilitation Clinic in Kingston. As teenagers embracing Rastafarianism, they were expelled from the clinic, turned to street singing for survival, and formalized the group around 1970-1975, initially recording unreleased tracks like 'Bad Intention' at Channel One Studios. Their debut single 'Why Worry' (1976) on the Twelve Tribes label led to opening slots for Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and Inner Circle, followed by the successful album 'The Same Song' (1978) and dub version with producer Tommy Cowan, establishing their distinctive vibrating harmonies, devotional lyrics, and roots reggae style.[1][2][3][4][5]

Fun Facts

• The group named themselves Israel Vibration after their distinctive 'vibrating' harmony style and affiliation with the Twelve Tribes of Israel Rastafarian organization.[1][4]
• They survived for six years singing on Kingston streets, honing live skills before breakthrough.[1][2][5]
• Polio outbreak traced to contaminated clothing shipment from England in 1950s.[4]
• In 1982, Doctor Dread rejected their solo pitches but insisted on reunion for RAS signing, citing Marcus Garvey's 'Unity is strength'.[1][4]

Members

• Apple Gabriel (from 1975 until 1998)
• Lascelle Bulgin
• Skelly - original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Maurice 'Blacka Morwell' Wellington - Auditioned and allowed entry to Channel One Studios for first recording ('Bad Intention' (1975, unreleased)) [1975]
• Errol 'Flabba' Holt - Present during first studio audition and session ('Bad Intention' (1975, unreleased)) [1975]

Key Collaborators

• Tommy Cowan - Producer for early hits and albums ('The Same Song' album (1978), 'Israel Tafari' dub) [1977-1978]
• Inner Circle members - Backing band on single ('The Same Song' (1977)) [1977]
• Roots Radics - Backing band for reunion albums and tours ('Strength of My Life' (1988), later albums including 'Reggae Knights' (2010 Grammy nominee), current touring band) [1988-present]
• Gary 'Dr. Dread' Himmelfarb - RAS Records founder who signed and produced reunion (Over a dozen albums starting with 'Strength of My Life' (1988)) [1987-2000s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Cool and Calm (Strength of My Life)
2. Back Staba (Stamina)
3. My Master's Will (Reggae Knights)
4. Herb Is The Healing (Stamina)
5. Next Generation (Reggae Music Never Dies)
6. Natty Dread (Stamina)
7. The Same Song - Edit (The Same Song)
8. Original Riddim (One Rock)
9. Rude Boy Shufflin' (On the Rock)
10. Flood Water (Stamina)

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #reggae