Biography

Comprising Cecil "Skeleton" Spence, Albert "Apple" Craig and Lascelles "Wiss" Bulgrin, this vocal group was formed while the members, all crippled in infancy during the polio epidemic that swept Jamaica in the 50s, were inmates at Kingston's Mona Rehabilitation Centre. Resident since childhood, they were expelled after they began to grow dreadlocks in accordance with their Rastafarian beliefs. For six years they lived rough, literally singing for their supper. Their attempts to survive on handouts from the institution in which they had lived for most of their lives were met with indifference, hostility, and sometimes brutality. Their first release, "Why Worry" (1976), financed by the Twelve Tribes organization to whom they had become affiliated, and recorded at Treasure Isle Studio, was a big success, as were their live shows supporting Dennis Brown and Bob Marley. In 1978 they teamed up with Inner Circle's Lewis Brothers, Ian and Roger aka the Fatman Riddim Section, to record their debut, The Same Song, for Tommy Cowan's Top Ranking label. It swiftly became hailed as an instant roots classic, as did its dub companion, Israel Tafari. Same Song and its follow-up, Unconquered People (1980), appeared through a licensing agreement with Harvest Records in the UK, as did the 12-inch "Crisis", which featured a melodica version by Augustus Pablo. The group's unique brand of gentle, rural-sounding harmonies and sincere Rasta lyrics has sustained them across a number of albums - mostly released through RAS Records in the USA - over the years, especially in the international market, where they continue to flourish.
DISCOGRAPHY: The Same Song (Top Ranking 1978)****, Same Song Dub (Top Ranking 1978)***, Israel Tafari (Top Ranking 1978)****, Unconquered People (Israel Vibes/Greensleeves 1980)***, Strength Of My Life (RAS 1988)***, Praises (RAS 1990)***, Forever (RAS 1991)***, Israel Dub remixed version of Same Song Dub (Greensleeves 1992)***, Why You So Craven (RAS 1992)****, Free To Move (RAS 1996)***, Pay The Piper (RAS 1999)****, Fighting Soldiers (Nocturne 2002)**.
COMPILATIONS: Best Of (Sonic Sounds 1988)****.

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