Zero Gravity Cannabis presents Jamaican reggae royalty, the legendary vocal trio Israel Vibration & Roots Radics, live in concert, August 29th at Bayside Bowl (all-ages) with special guests Dub Apocalypse ft. members of John Brown’s Body & G-Love.
TIX: $35 adv, $45 at the door, 8pm
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(more info at zerogravitycannabis.com)
TIX @: eventbrite.com/e/zero-gravity-presentsisrael-vibration-roots-radics-tickets-919658682877
ABOUT ISRAEL VIBRATION
The story of reggae group ISRAEL VIBRATION starts with an outbreak of polio in Jamaica in the 1950s, after a shipment of clothing carrying the virus arrived on the island from England. Stricken with the virus, Lascelles “Wiss” Bulgin, Albert “Apple” Craig, and Cecil “Skelly” Spence spent several years at the Mona Rehabilitation Clinic on the outskirts of Kingston, where they began to show an interest in music. As teenagers, they started to adhere to the teachings of Rastafari, which eventually got them thrown out of the clinic, and the three found themselves without a home. This inspired their first songs, with the three creating harmonies where each member took a turn singing lead, with the other two provided a type of harmony where their voices would vibrate. This distinctive style and their membership in a Rastafarian organization known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel led to them taking the name Israel Vibration.
Jamaican producer Tommy Cowan brought them to a studio in Kingston to record their first LP, The Same Song. Released by EMI in England, the album brought them to worldwide attention; Bob Marley picked them as his favorite group and had them play on his shows in Kingston. Their next album, Unconquered People, was recorded at Bob’s Tuff Gong Studio and featured many of the Wailers as musicians.
After splitting with Cowan, the group, frustrated with the Jamaican music business and the difficulties of living on the island with polio, came to Brooklyn. In 1987, the members of the group approached Doctor Dread from RAS Records to see if the label would sign them as solo artists. Doctor Dread was firm in his response: “Marcus Garvey always said that ‘Unity is strength,’ and if you reunite, RAS would be willing to relaunch your career as Israel Vibration.” In 1988, RAS recorded Strength of My Life, the first of eight albums by the group for the label. In 1998, Apple Craig decided to again pursue a solo career; Skelly and Wiss continue to record and tour as Israel Vibration and have released three more albums for RAS and the new Live & Jammin DVD with an accompanying CD.
ABOUT ROOTS RADICS
The Roots Radics Band was formed in 1978 by bass player Errol "Flabba" Holt, guitarist Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont and drummer Lincoln "Style" Scott. The nucleus of Holt and Lamont had previously worked together in the group The Morwells and in the backing band for Prince Far I called The Arabs. They were joined by many musicians, including guitarist Noel "Sowell" Bailey, Dwight Pinkney and Steve Golding, keyboard player Wycliffe "Steelie" Johnson, Pianist Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson and saxophonist Headley Bennett. As a combined force the Roots Radics became a well-respected studio and stage band, which dominated the sound in the first half of the 1980s. In addition to their own catalogue, they have worked with artists such as Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Michael Prophet, Eek-A-Mouse, and Israel Vibration.
In 1979, the band recorded the riddims for Barrington Levy's first songs for producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, credited at the time as the Channel One Stars. As a sought after studio lineup, Roots Radics backed several reggae stars in the studio and on tour. For example, they appear on several Eek-A-Mouse albums: Bubble Up Yu Hip (1980), Wa-Do-Dem (1981), Skidip (1982), The Mouse and the Man (1983) and Assassinator (1983). They backed reggae superstar Gregory Isaacs on his album Night Nurse (1982), and are often credited on releases by Prince Far I, both on his solo recording work, and as part of producer Adrian Sherwood's studio supergroup Singers and Players. Johnson went on to become half of the production duo Steely and Clevie. Bailey died of cancer in July 2014, aged 61, Lincoln 'Style' Scott was shot dead in his home 9 October 2014. In 2019 they received their first Grammy nomination for the album The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics, a collaboration with Sly & Robbie that was produced by Hernan "Don Camel" Sforzini.