MOURNING! Farewell to the legendary Cecil "Skelly" Spence, one of the founders of Israel Vibration!

Over the last few years, of course, due to age and other fatalities, we have lost more and more icons from the golden phase of Jamaican Reggae. Last Friday, one of the giants left for Zion - Cecil Spence, better known as Skelly, one of the members of Israel Vibration, originally formed by him, Lacelle "Wiss" Bulgin and Albert "Apple" Craig (also now deceased). Israel Vibration is a huge example of overcoming. Its three vocalists met at a polio rehabilitation center, a disease that ravaged Jamaica in the 1970s and left the three of them and thousands of other people with mobility impairments in their legs.

THE LIGHTS OUT

Anyone who had the opportunity to attend one of the group's shows always saw Skelly with a lot of vigor and energy, sharing with us huge classics such as "The Same Song", "Ball of Fire", "Racial Discrimination", "Red Eyes", "Brother’s Keeper" and "On The Rock". The pandemic, like other veterans, was not easy for Skelly. The confinement kept him inactive for a long time at home, which initially worsened his health, especially with problems related to arthritis in his right arm and hand. Because of this, he was being deprived of performing the simplest tasks in recent months, such as preparing his own food or holding his crutch while walking. At the end of 2021, Skelly made some recordings for Israel Vibration's next album, which is in the production phase, and also participated with Groundation. After so long without using his voice, Skelly became hoarse and started visiting the doctor constantly, still not knowing exactly what problem was weakening him. In March, Israel Vibration went on an 11-show tour of the United States and he wanted to go on the tour, but reported that it might be his last, due to the difficulty in moving around and standing with arthritis in his right hand.

THE SAD DIAGNOSIS

In June 2022, Rafael Costa, one of the members of Surforeggae, a personal friend and part of Israel Vibration's current career management team, went to New York to visit him and confirmed the arthritis problems he had reported over the phone. According to Rafael, other than that and the fact that he was very thin, he seemed well and motivated to improve his health. Skelly then started physiotherapy on his right hand, showing improvements and also started going to the doctor for several tests. Over the past few months he had also visited speech therapists for throat care. Unfortunately, Skelly's health problems weren't just related to arthritis - that August he was hospitalized after not feeling well at home. It was there that, after several tests, the doctors detected an advanced lung tumor. The artist who would have turned 70 on November 13th left us on August 26th. One of his last words on the phone was about his love for his fans. Skelly leaves behind children and an immense legacy in World Reggae. Without a doubt he will forever be remembered. His departure moved people from all over the world and, until then, hundreds of artists in the field. Rest in peace, Spence. We love you. *Credits for the first two photos: Jan Salzman/originally published on Reggaeville.com

IN MEMORIAM

Check out this and other legends that have already left us, in the special section "In Memoriam".