KINGSTON, Jamaica — Widely regarded among Jamaica’s greatest footballers, Allan ‘Skill’ Cole also had strong ties to music.
He was manager for Bob Marley and The Wailers and mentored many upcoming artistes.
That association was evident throughout his Thanksgiving service held at the National Arena on October 11. There were musical tributes from the Binghistra Movement, Denzil “Dipstick” Williams, Leroy Sibbles, Bongo Herman, Dean Fraser, Tarrus Riley, Luciano, Beenie Man, Junior Reid and Stephen Marley, son of Bob Marley.
Marcia Griffiths, who toured with Marley as a member of The I Three harmony group, said it was important for her to attend.
“Allan is a part of my history and journey, so I had to be here to pay my respect,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
Singer/songwriter, Sangie Davis, is an elder in the Twelve Tribes of Israel, the Rastafarian organisation Cole was a member of for over 50 years.
“Allan a mi bredrin yuh nuh. As a member of di Tribes of Israel, I can remember nine of dem come a my yard in Trench Town in 1969. There was Devon Lewis, Allan, Anthony Gilbert, Bunny Riley, Bob, an’ some more,” he recalled. “From dat, mi an’ him close an’ him encourage Bob to listen to some of my music. Allan was a intermediary between people. Jus’ like how him could score a goal but him choose to pass di ball, me is one of di people who him pass di ball to.”
Williams also first met Cole in Trench Town over 55 years ago. They had a lasting bond.
“Is di honourable Skill Cole, so I had to be here. Allan was full of love and understanding, a great humanitarian,” he said.
Cole died on September 9 at age 74 at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A prodigy who played for Jamaica when he was 15, Cole epitomised the growing social awareness that gripped Jamaica in the 1960s and 1970s.
Like Marley, he embraced Rastafari through the teachings of Mortimo Planno, a leader of that movement who lived in Trench Town. Cole was Marley’s manager on his final tour, which was of the United States, in 1980.
Marley died from cancer in May 1981 in Miami at age 36.
Some of the music industry figures who attended the thanksgiving service were I Three member Judy Mowatt, mother of three of Cole’s six children; entertainment minister Olivia Grange, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, veteran tour manager Copeland Forbes, Mutabaruka, Tommy Cowan, Cindy Breakespeare, musicians Robbie Lyn and Noel Davy, singers Desi Young, Sampalue, Ras Michael Jr, Michael “Mikey Dan” Whyte (Bob Marley’s former cook), consultant Clyde McKenzie and music producers Mikey Bennett and Trevor “Leggo” Douglas.