Don�t fight �gainst the Rastaman with him culture music, �cause the Rastaman no mean no harm, what the Rastaman want to do is calm the storm" � Albert "Apple Gabirel" Craig Israel Vibration is one of the greatest triumphs to come out of the Jamaican reggae scene. Those familiar with the band feel the warmth of recognition and appreciation when the name comes up in a discussion of reggae music. That warmth and feeling is amplified for anyone who has heard or seen this special trio of singers perform their unique and powerful act in a live performance. For two decades the positive vibrations have been keeping us dancing and feeling the emotions of their spiritual message. Like many other reggae stars of Jamaica, Israel Vibration feel that God has given them the gift of song for the purpose of conveying the message of Rastafari to the people. These three men make musical magic that blends together traditional roots reggae with raw human emotion and a strong spiritual message. I am especially found of the music and story of Israel Vibration. I plan to discuss a biography and discography of Israel Vibes. Then I will try to describe what Israel Vibrations music means to me, both live and recorded. The three men Albert Criag, Cecil Spence, and Lacelle Bulgin were all born in economically deprived areas of Jamaica during the late 1940�s early 1950�s. This was a terrible time in Jamaica due to the horrific Polio epidemic that swept though the cities and rural towns. Polio claimed the lives of thousands of people and crippled many others. Each of the three men fell victim to Poliomyelitis at a very young age. Most Polio infections occur from a source of contaminated drinking water. The virus enters the body through the intestine where it then multiplies. It spreads into the bloodstream where it eventually infects the nervous system and destroys motor neurons that control muscle movement. The virus only paralyzes 1% of its victims but unfortunately all three singers where in that 1 percentile. Albert "Apple" Craig was the youngest son in a family of ten children. He was the apple of his father�s eye so they called him Apple. One of the major inspirations in Apples life was his mother. She was a spiritual healer and told him that one day he will be a great leader in the world and millions of people will follow behind him. When Albert was born he had a thin layer of tissue covering his face. When the doctor peeled off the tissue, Apple recalls, "I didn�t look like a baby, I look like an ancient man, like I was here thousands and thousands of years ago." His mother told him "all them profits, them born like that." When Apple was just three years of age he had contracted the Poliovirus. He had lost the ability to move the lower half of his body from the dreadful disease. Those who had become "contaminated" by the Poliovirus were banished from their homes and placed in centers often filled with other infected children. The three children who later became Israel Vibration were all moved from their homes and taken to Kingston when they were young boys. Most families in Jamaica did not have the economic resources to afford sufficient medical care for their families so the three boys were sent to Mona Rehabilitation Center in Kingston. While in the center, Albert met Cecil Spence "Skelly" and Lacelle Bulgin "Wiss." The three young men where drawn to each other threw the hardships and struggles that each had lived though their young lives. While in the Rehabilitation Center, the three boys where horribly abused and mistreated, often the subjects of cruel experiments which was the conventional treatment for Polio at the time. Albert recalls having a blistering hot blanket wrapped around his legs by one of the centers nurses. While in the center, Apple, Skelly, and Wiss, found themselves with little to keep occupied so one day they started singing harmonies. As Apple recalls, we would "just sit down and sing every day because I never have anything else to do." At the age of ten Apple taught himself how to play the piano and soon after wrote his first song. Israel Vibration was almost complete; they had three lead singers and a piano back up, now all they needed was the message and leadership of Jah-Rastafari. While in the Mona Rehabilitation center the men met a Rasta elder named Baba Douse. He taught them about Rastafari and of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia along with Jah and the Rasta�s culture. Living life with Polio is a day-to-day challenge and I feel that Rastafari gave needed hope and praise to Apple, Skelly, and Wiss. Selassie�s teachings make the struggle that the three have lived seem overshadowed when they are focusing on spreading his message all over this world. The three men have all had their own problems and struggles to overcome them. They have all questioned God�s reasoning for giving them Polio, and why people have treated them differently their entire lives. Being cursed at and called a cripple has hurt each band member beyond the physical pain of the disease. All three men have taken this pain and transformed it into a spiritual and emotional charisma emanating from each of their souls. When seeing the three perform that vibe is passed on to an audience. "It take a lot from me outta life, but at the same time it give me much more in life" (Apple: Riverfront Times Interview 1996). One excerpt of Emperor Selassie teaching that I feel is relevant to Israel Vibration celebrating Rastafarianism is pertaining to living ones life is "Wise men have always known the deep and pervading truth that it is better to give than to receive, for even as it conflicts with selfish and ambitious desires, it moderates and controls them. Giving always demands sacrifice. To overcome the temptation to enjoy mere daily comfort, to press resolutely and patiently forward on the scheduled way, are true tests of the high degree of determination that should bind you together. Memories of past injustices should not divert us from the more pressing business at hand." (Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings) The three men began what would become a lifelong dedication to Rastafarianism. They each grew their hair into the traditional natty dread locks in accordance with their Rastafarian beliefs. The staff at the Polio rehabilitation center did not accept the dread and kicked Apple, Skelly, and Wiss out of the institution. The three were shifted around to other centers until 1969 when they were finally and permanently expelled from the institutions. The three took to life in the bush and did every thing they could to survive. They began composing and singing songs that express their spiritual beliefs in Jah-Rastafari. With nothing more to do they would hang out, smoke ganga, and develop three part harmonies that would later distinguish Israel Vibration�s unique style. It didn�t take very long for people to recognize their singing talent. "People would pass through the bush and hear us singing and form a little audience." �Apple The local community found solace and comfort in their music and encouraged them to pursue greatness. For the next six years the trio would have another struggle, they would literally have to sing to earn their next meal and often times didn�t eat for entire days. Israel Vibes got their first unofficial gig singing at the Theological College located right next to the Mona Rehabilitation center. Skelly and Wiss shared the lead vocals with Apple as he provided the piano accompaniment. Since they�re a group made up of three lead vocalists they put the true leadership in the hands of Jah. "We three are leaders, but Jah is the highest leader." (Apple: Riverfront Times Interview, 1996) The response of their first show was a tremendous success. In 1975, soon after word of the gig got out, the group was taken under the wing of Hugh Booth from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Many other Rasta�s had refused to work with or support Israel Vibration because they felt that Jah had given them Polio as a form of punishment for a previous sin. The Twelve Tribes financed and produced the backing music for Israel Vibrations first single release "Why Worry" (1976) which was recorded at Treasure Isle Studio. The first single was released on a 7-inch vinyl on the Orthodox record label. The song was a success and gained much support from reggae superstars including Dennis Brown and Bob Marley among others reggae stars. Israel Vibration�s act had caught the eye of top reggae producer Tommy Cowan who decided to finance further recordings. They teamed up with The Fatman Riddim Section, otherwise known as Ian and Rodger Lewis from Inner Circle, to record their debut LP "The Same Song" on producer Tommy Cowan�s Top Ranking label. The album contained such songs as "Same Song, Weep and Mourn, Walk the Streets of Glory, Ball of Fire, I�ll Go Through, Why, Lift Up Your Conscience, Prophet Has Arise, Jah Time Has Come, Licks and Kicks, Crisis, and Crisis Dub." The Same Song was released in 1976 and was a huge success. It was hailed an instant roots classic by many Jamaican reggae producers and DJ�s. The Same Song�s success inspired Apple, Skelly, and Wiss to compose a dub companion album named Israel Tafari. The sudden success of Israel Vibration seemed to be a happy ending to the life long struggles that these three men have gone through, but life in �Babylon� was not as good as it truly seemed. Like many other reggae stars of the early 70�s, Israel Vibes was producing hit songs but was not seeing any of the money from their record sales. Unethical business practices plagued the record industry in Jamaica at the current time. Many of the top producers where controlling radio stations and records stores which made it hard for Israel Vibes to get the recognition they dissevered. A clear example of the bad business practices by record labels and producers was revisited in the movie...
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