CECIL “SKELLY” SPENCE, CO-FOUNDER OF THE LEGENDARY ROOTS GROUP ISRAEL VIBRATION, DIES AT 69!

Israel Vibration co-founder Cecil “Skelly” Spence died on August 26 in Brooklyn, New York at age 69, his son Craig Spence confirmed. He said his father succumbed to Stage 4 lung cancer.

Spence, along with Lascelle “Wiss” Bulgin and Albert “Apple” Craig, formed the group in the mid-1970s. The trio first met at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre in the late 1950’s, where they were being treated for polio.

After making their debut in 1976 with the song Why Worry on the Twelve Tribes of Israel label, they had a breakthrough two years later with Same Song, produced by Tommy Cowan. This was followed by a succession of well-received singles and albums for RAS Records during the late 1980s and 1990s.

Craig, who left the group in 1997, died in 2020.

Gary Himelfarb, founder and president of RAS Records, described Spence as “A rebel, a street person.”

Spence and Bulgin recorded and toured as a duo following Craig’s departure. They toured Europe, North America and South America with the Roots Radics Band, a top session unit that includes bass player Flabba Holt and guitarist Dwight Pinkney.

Israel Vibration’s previous tour was in March when they did 11 shows on the United States West Coast. Their last album, Play it Real, was released in 2015.