Israel Vibration
NEW ALBUM
ISRAEL VIBRATION & ROOTS RADICS – AVAILABLE FOR BOOKINGS
ISRAEL VIBRATION & ROOTS RADICS SCHEDULED TO TOUR THE WESTERN US & HAWAII IN MAY, JUNE 2025 – NEW ALBUM, REGGAE MUSIC NEVER DIES RELEASED FEBRUARY 28, 2025 IN THE TOP 100 PHYSICAL ALBUM SALES IN EUROPE IN ALL GENRES – CURRENTLY ON TOUR IN SOUTH AMERICA IN MARCH & TOURING EUROPE IN MARCH, APRIL & AUGUST 2025 – PERFORMED ON REGGAE ON THE ROCKS IN COLORADO & THE REGGAE ON THE LAKE FESTIVAL IN VIRGINIA – AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 2024 COMPLETED A MONTH TOUR OF COLORADO, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, THE EASTERN US & COSTA RICA – PRIOR TO THAT IN APRIL, MAY 2024 COMPLETED A MONTH WESTERN US & HAWAII TOUR – COMPLETED THE LIVE & GIVE US TOUR IN APRIL 2023 – PERFORMED ON THE REGGAE CAMPOUT FESTIVAL, THE REPUBLICA DO REGGAE FESTIVAL IN SALVADOR, BRAZIL & THE DALLAS REGGAE FESTIVAL
Reggae Music Never Dies! Israel Vibration Announces a New Album!
From the sun-drenched streets of Kingston, Jamaica, where reggae’s heartbeat pulses eternal, Israel Vibration has long been a symbol of resilience and hope, weaving stories of struggle and triumph through their conscious lyrics and iconic harmonies.
Their much-anticipated new album, Reggae Music Never Dies, was released on February 28th, 2025, available on digital platforms, CD, and vinyl. Preceded by a pair of singles, this collection of ten fresh tracks unites the echoes of the past with the vibrant pulse of the present. It features the poignant final recordings of the late, great Cecil “Skelly” Spence, alongside new creations from Lacelle “Wiss” Bulgin—the last original member of this legendary trio. Carrying the torch with unwavering passion, Wiss continues to inspire, touring the world and touching hearts, as Israel Vibration remains a cornerstone of reggae music history.
The seed for this project was planted during the stillness of the pandemic when Aston Barrett Jr. of The Wailers reached out to express his admiration. He offered to produce a song, a fitting homage to Israel Vibration’s iconic Unconquered People album, which featured members of The Wailers, including Aston “Family Man” Barrett, his father. This sparked a vision among Skelly, Wiss, and their management: to revive the essence of Unconquered People with Aston Barrett Jr.’s mastery of The Wailers’ timeless sound.
Amid the global lockdown, innovation thrived. Guided by Rafael Costa, Skelly, and Wiss transformed their homes into makeshift studios, recording vocals, some arrangements, and harmonies with nothing but their phones and their musical instruments. These precious recordings traveled across time and space, landing in the capable hands of Aston Barrett Jr. The son of reggae royalty, he infused the tracks with the spirit of his father Aston, his uncle, Carlton Barrett, and legendary Wailers such as Tyrone Downie and Earl “Wyah” Lindo.
Barrett Jr. produced and mixed the album, played bass, drums, rhythm guitar, piano, and percussion bringing the sound of roots reggae alive once more. Joining him are an ensemble of reggae luminaries: Dwight Pinkney, Kubix, and Thales “Lion Farmer” on lead guitar; Dean Fraser on saxophone; Randy “Tromboclaat” Fletcher on trombone; Okiel McIntyre on trumpet; Carol Dexter on backing vocals; and percussionists Abidan Tafari and Kemoy “Chippy” Outar. Grammy-winning engineer Christopher Daley mastered the album to a great sound.
This musical odyssey was brought to life in studios across the globe: Bad Lions Studio (Pompano Beach, Florida), 5th Street (Austin, Texas), Tuff Gong (Kingston, Jamaica), and even Skelly’s Auto (New York, USA).
The producers Rafael Costa and Henrique Pesqueira of Riddim Agency have overseen the project with care, while the stunning artwork is crafted by Marcelo Ment, Rangel Melkunas, and Rafael Costa. Distributed in Europe by Baco Distribution, Reggae Music Never Dies is more than an album—it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of reggae.
Let the rhythm of Israel Vibration remind us all that reggae’s heart beats on, eternal and unyielding. Song titles on their new album, Reggae Music Never Dies are Next Generation, Wake Up, Natty Farmer, Don’t Let Dem Make You Do, Gun Hawk, Reggae Music Never Dies, Dem a Fight, Herbal Cure, Different Enemies and After the Storm.
ISRAEL VIBRATION & ROOTS RADICS recently completed a Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Eastern US tour in August, September 2024. In April, May 2024 they completed a Western US & Hawaii tour. The shows were very well received. Wiss and The Roots Radics performed many of the classic Israel Vibration hits. They were very well loved by the fans. January, February they are scheduled to tour with Duane Stevenson in the Western US.
ISRAEL VIBRATION & ROOTS RADICS also performed on The Reggae Campout Festival, The Republica Do Reggae Festival in Salvador Brazil and The Dallas Reggae Festival. The turnouts on their Western US, Hawaii tour were consistently strong. Fans were enthusiastic to come out and enjoy some of the best classic Jamaican roots reggae from the early days, the first generations. Kings Music International has been booking I-Vibes for two decades.
With the passing of Skelly and Apple, the other two original singers in the group, Wiss is now the last man singing. Wiss is holding it strong, successfully fronting ISRAEL VIBRATION. They are performing all of the great classic I-Vibes hit songs. Wiss’s talent as a front man is clear. The fans love Wiss and they love The Roots Radics. The overall vocals are ever strong with Bunny Brissett, Horace James and Steve Golding singing background vocals.
Israel Vibration’s band, The Roots Radics are some of Jamaica’s finest recording musicians. Flabba Holt, Dwight Pinkney and T-Bird recorded I- Vibes albums with Dr. Dread of Ras Records and Jim Fox of Lion and Fox recording Studios. Each musician is stellar and the music grooves like a well-oiled machine. Their message is full of potent words of wisdom and their live show is rock solid like their albums. The people love it.
ISRAEL VIBRATION has an impressive catalog of music with many classic hits such as Ball Of Fire, Get Up & Go, Cool & Calm, Why Worry, Vultures, Licks & Kicks and The Same Song. Their music spread worldwide before the album paradigm shift. Ras Records and Jim Fox of Lion and Fox recording Studios in Washington DC were instrumental in building their catalog as one of the greatest legacies in the history of reggae music. All over the world you will hear their songs floating through the air in the streets, out of people’s houses and cars and in the dance halls. Their music lives forever.
Mention the name ISRAEL VIBRATION in reggae music circles and watch the warmth of recognition and appreciation of those who recognize this very special vocal group. The positive vibrations emanating from the music of ISRAEL VIBRATION have been spellbinding audiences, critics and DJs for over three decades. The lead vocalists cast a harmonious musical spell, weaving traditional roots reggae with a mesmerizing sound and deeply spiritual message. ISRAEL VIBRATION have been touring very strong worldwide for many years. They are regularly featured internationally on most of the major Reggae Festivals.
Israel Vibration members Cecil Spence (Skelly) and Lascelle Bulgin (Wiss) were born in Jamaica, West Indies. Each is a victim of Poliomyelitis (Polio). They met as children in the Mona Rehabilitation Center into which they were placed because of their families’ limited resources and their needs for specialized medical care. They learned early on the necessity for developing survival skills, and although polio is an undeniably crippling and debilitating disease, the youths never let their physically challenging situation overcome their willpower and their creative abilities. They found strength in the faith of Rastafari through the guidance of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, and began composing and singing songs which expressed their spiritual beliefs.
Their spirituality and stance on issues relating to their residency at the Mona Rehabilitation Center caused them to be expelled from that institution. Undaunted, they found solace, comfort, and sustenance in their music, which won them the support of their local community and provided them with encouragement to pursue their music careers. They began recording in 1976, enjoying a hit with the poignant Same Song, which was licensed to EMI and brought the group international attention. Their musical careers seemed to be taking off, but, like many Jamaican artists, Israel Vibration’s recording career was set back by a local industry plagued at that time by questionable accounting practices, musical piracy, and a lack of tour support. In 1983, the group broke up and its members moved to the States both for superior medical care and to pursue solo projects.
In 1988 Israel Vibration began building their extensive catalog with Strength of My Life, Praises, Forever, Vibes Alive, IV, On The Rock, Free to Move, and several dub albums. On the Rock garnered much praise the single and video “Rudeboy Shufflin’,” which, along with the “Feeling Irie” video, was aired on BET as well as other television programs throughout the US and abroad. On The Rock and its follow-up Free To Move reached their height of success upon reaching number one on the CMJ New World charts. Their 1999 release, Pay the Piper, displays more of the strong material songwriters Skelly and Wiss are known for, and the album’s featured video “Hard Road” was seen in 3900 Blockbuster video stores during the month of January, 2000. Their album Jericho, released in 2000 was another strong work featuring the best musicians and harmonizers Jamaica has to offer. Skelly and Wiss fully commit to each honest lyric and sing from the heart with the true spirit of universality. Israel Vibration has continued putting out strong albums with their latest ones being Reggae Knights and Play it Real. Their overall catalog is very deep and consistent. It is a great musical contribution to the world.
BIOGRAPHY: ISRAEL VIBRATION
A living lesson in fortitude, the vocal trio of Cecil “Skeley” Spence, Albert “Apple Gabriel” Craig, and Lascelle “Wiss” Bulgin overcame adversity, illness, and poverty to become one of the finest roots groups in Jamaica’s history. All three had been afflicted by polio and first became acquainted, albeit briefly, at Kingston’s Mona Rehabilitation Clinic.
Of the trio, Bulgin appeared least likely to emerge a singing sensation. He spent much of his childhood at a variety of rehabilitation centers and in his teens began working for a tailor. Craig, in contrast, initially did seem destined for a musical career and for a while attended the famed Alpha Cottage School. This illustrious institution, founded in 1880 and run by Catholic nuns, is renowned for its musical training. Many of the island’s greatest stars passed through its doors, including members of the Skatalites and drummer Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace. However, Craig found the tough discipline and rigid atmosphere oppressive and ran away at 14 into a life of homelessness and poverty. After an equally bright start, Spence’s life also took a severe downturn. As a preteen, he played xylophone in a youth band, with whom he appeared on national television. Although physically disabled, he was a gifted athlete and in his teens he was selected for the Jamaican Wheelchair Basketball team. But his conversion to Rastafarianism put an end to all that in 1969; he was dropped from the team and returned to Kingston. It was serendipity that he bumped into Craig soon after, and fate intervened again, to bring the pair back into touch with Bulgin.
The three teens had individually all previously converted to rastafarianism, now their shared faith and childhood experiences helped forge a strong friendship. Leaving behind their old lives, the trio now spent their time hanging out together and busking for money around Kingston. They spent the next six years singing for their suppers and by 1975, Israel Vibration was a vocal force to be reckoned with. However, their initial attempt at recording was abortive as the one track they did cut, the Ernest Hookim-produced “Bad Intention,” never saw release. The following year, an answer to their prayers arrived when members of the Rastafarian religious group the Twelve Tribes of Israel agreed to finance a single by the trio.
Israel Vibration went into Treasure Isle studio with producer U- Booth and recorded the single “Why Worry” and a new version of “Bad Intention” for its flip. The group’s exquisite dread sound and militant cultural themes made an instant impression and the trio now found themselves on-stage opening for the likes of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. In 1977, Israel Vibration began work on their follow-up, “The Same Song,” with producer Tommy Cowan. By the time they were done, the group had another hit song and a debut album of stunning proportions, which was titled after the single. A de rigueur dub version, Israel Tafari, accompanied the full-length and was equally powerful. On the strength of these, the trio was signed to the British EMI subsidiary Harvest, who released Same Song in Britain. 1979 brought the Unconquering People album, and another popular single, “Crisis.” And even if this set was not quite as dread as its predecessor, tracks like “Mr. Taxman” and “We a de Rasta” remain classics of cultural roots. Not surprisingly, Israel Vibration went down a storm at that year’s Reggae Sunsplash.
The trio’s deeply devotional songs, cultural themes, inspirational lyrics, and original take on the roots style had struck a chord with reggae fans around the world. Thus, it was a surprising decision that Israel Vibration recorded their next album, 1981’s Why You So Craven, with legendary dancehall producer Junjo Lawes. In many ways, it was a failed venture and the trio was so dissatisfied, they walked out before the sessions were complete. Bringing in the vocal trio the Tamlins, Lawes carried on without them and the resulting album, while not a total disaster, certainly lacked the spirit of its predecessors. Even an avid response at 1982’s Reggae Sunsplash could not convince the trio that their future lay in a Jamaica where dancehall now reigned supreme (Live at Reggae Sunsplash, a split album from Israel Vibrations and the Gladiators, bears witness to their performance). Thus they relocated to New York City, perhaps believing that the large immigrant community could sustain them, or that America was now ready to embrace roots. They were wrong on both counts. A few occasional live appearances aside, the group swiftly disappeared from view. All three attempted solo careers, but only Bulgin made it on to record; his Mr. Sunshine album paired him with the Freedom Fighters Band.
In 1987, the trio decided it was stronger together than apart, re-formed, and approached the RAS label. Although labelhead Doctor Dread had shown no interest in their solo efforts, he was enthusiastic about a reunion and quickly signed them to RAS. Strength of My Life appeared the following year, and aided by the Roots Radics, it found Israel Vibration as vibrant as ever.
The trio now settled down for the long haul, and although their sound was no longer on the scene’s cutting edge, they continued putting out strong sets. 1990 brought three albums, Praises, its dub companion Dub Vibration, and Israel Dub, drawn from the Strength of My Life set. The next year’s Forever found the trio in a surprisingly comic mood, taking aim at themselves, dancehall, as well as contemporary issues. In 1992, a taste of the Vibrations’ live power was delivered up on Vibes Alive, which was recorded at a show in Santa Cruz the previous October. Besides showcasing the trio’s unique vocal styling, the album captures the Roots Radics at their fiercest. 1993’s IV, and its dub companion IV Dub, gave heart to all those who believed that roots was fast becoming little more than a world lovefest. The album’s militancy, notably on “Naw Give Up the Fight,” proved the trio’s own passionate cultural concerns and dread roots were not fading. The equally powerful On the Rock followed two years later and was also accompanied by a dub set.
Then, in 1996, the group released their first single in years, the infectious “Feeling Irie,” taken from their new album, Free to Move. This attempt to push the band’s profile higher into the mainstream came to naught, the trio had already built up a loyal fan base and remained a successful live act, as 1997’s Live Again proved. Unlike its live predecessor, this time around Israel Vibrations packed the album with crowd-pleasing favorites.
It was nine years since the trio had re-formed and signed to RAS; they’d been recording and performing steadily since, but Craig was no longer happy with their current path left the group in 1997 to pursue a solo career. His debut album, Another Moses, featured his own backing band, the Zionists.
Continuing on as a duo, Spence and Bulgin reappeared in 1999 with a new studio album, Pay the Piper, and proved that Israel Vibrations would not be defeated by this defection. Jericho following hot on Piper’s heels in the new year, while 2000 also saw the release of the limited-edition Power of the Trinity three-CD box set; Dub Combo appeared in summer 2001. Acknowledging Craig’s longtime contribution to the group, the set is evenly divided between the trio, with each disc devoted to one individual member’s greatest compositions. Israel Vibrations’s career shows no signs of slowing, and the group has firmly carved a secure niche out of what once seemed an impenetrable surface. Their popularity seems assured, and they remain a vibrant live act and an always intriguing studio group.
LINKS:
The Same Song (Original – 1978)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Same Song (Live at Reggae On The River)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Cool And Calm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
On The Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
On The Rock (Live In Paris)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Get Up And Go (Live at Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2002)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Why Worry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Greedy Dog (Live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Racial Discrimination + Ball of fire (Live at Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2002)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Vultures (Live at Reggae On The River 2004)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
My Master’s Will | Official Music Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Natty Dread |Official Music Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Live in Paris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Live at Reggae On The Rocks (Denver 2000)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Live and Jamming at Rouen (France 2003)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (June 18 2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Live at Rototom Sunsplash (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
