The Grammy nominees have been revealed and Israel Vibration receives a Best Reggae Album nomination for Reggae Knights. Other nominees include Monty Alexander for Harlem-Kingston Express Live!, Stephen Marley for Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life, Ziggy Marley for Wild And Free and Shaggy for Summer In Kingston.
Cecil “Skelly” Spence and Lascelle “Wiss” Bulgin, two thirds of the original Israel Vibration, released Reggae Knights on August 16, 2011 through Mediacom and VP Associated Label Group (VPAL), a subsidiary of VP Records that offers worldwide independent digital and physical distribution for artists and labels.
VPAL Label Manager Donovan Williams expresses his enthusiasm about the news. “I’m very excited for their well-deserved nomination. Working directly with Skelly, Wiss and manager Michel Jovanovic on their U.S. release has been a nice experience and served great purpose. We intend to join forces again for their future accomplishments.”
Recorded in Jimmy Cliff’s studio (Sun Power Productions) in Kingston, Israel Vibration still defends the traditional values of roots music on Reggae Knights. They even recreate their famous first single “Bad Intention” which put them on the map as one of the most pivotal reggae bands in the late 1970s. Additional musicians including members of the Roots Radics, Robbie Shakespeare, Dean Fraser, Nambo Robinson and Grammy-winning engineer Christopher Daley contribute their talents on the album.
Check out their latest video “My Master’s Will” off of Reggae Knights:
Israel Vibration was originally a harmony trio consisting of Lascelle “Wiss” Bulgin, Albert “Apple Gabriel” Craig, and Cecil “Skelly.” They all met as children while recovering from polio at a rehabilitation center in Jamaica. The boys formed a bond singing together and used music as part of the healing process. The group went on to record three albums, The Same Song, Unconquered People and Why You So Craven, before temporarily parting ways in 1981. In 1997, Apple Gabriel permanently left the group to pursue a solo career. Skelly and Wiss continue to record albums and tour the world as Israel Vibration, backed by longtime associates Roots Radics.
The winner for Best New Reggae Album will be announced in at the Pre-Telecast Ceremony on Feb, 12, 2012. The 54th Grammys air on CBS on Feb 12, 2012 at 8pm ET.