‘Skill did love the music’ - J’can musicians pay tribute to the late Allan Cole

Several of Jamaica's top musicians were on hand to pay tribute to the late Allan 'Skill' Cole at his thanksgiving service on Saturday held at the National Arena.

Cole, a former national footballer, passed away on September 9 at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He was 74 years old. Cole will be remembered for his exploits on the field, and is widely regarded as one of Jamaica's greatest footballing products. But a large number of his well-wishers hailed from the country's music fraternity as they came to honour a man who fought for freedom of Rastafari expression on the national radio stations.

Artistes such as Stephen Marley, Beenie Man, Luciano, Tarrus Riley, Junior Reid, 'Bongo' Herman Davis, Dean Fraser and Denzil 'Dipstick' Williams were all in attendance at the service, with several performing special tributes for Cole. During the 1970s, Cole served as Bob Marley's tour manager and shared a close friendship with the iconic reggae star. While serving in his role as manager, Cole fought fiercely against discrimination of Rastafari, which culminated in a confrontation at the RJR radio station.

Cole had demanded the national radio stations to play Bob Marley and the Wailers' 1974 single Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock) on the air in a time when discrimination against Rastas was rife.

Kay Osborne, former general manager of Television Jamaica, recalled the incident as an attack against the system by Cole.

"Back in the day, the Jamaican establishment feared the Rastafari movement," she said.

"No radio station would play a tune that glorified the 'Natty Dread'. But as the Wailers' manager, and immersed in Wailers music, Skill knew he had to attack the system, knowing that the Wailers was vital and the sound was essential to the upliftment of the entire world."

"Allan 'Skill' Cole made it his mission to break through the impenetrable barriers the radio stations erected," she added.

Cole was in love with reggae music and contributed to its spread throughout the decades. Williams, a part of the harmony trio Wadadah, remembered Cole as a passionate figure who often visited Trench Town with several of Jamaica's renowned musicians.

"I born and grow in Trench Town so I was always around and he used to come there and check a man name Mortimer Planno who would eventually become Bob's mentor," he explained.

"Where he was, that was the Mecca of the music; that's in Trench Town. Joe Higgs, Alton Ellis, Lascelles Perkins, the Heptunes, Toots, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Boothe, Mighty Diamonds, the list goes on. All of them were there."

It was this connection that led to the budding friendship between Marley and Cole.

"When Bob hear that Skill was in Trench Town, he wanted to get associated with him and he did, and so they set up a relationship where Skill became Bob's manager," said Williams. "Bob love ball and Skill did love the music."

Cole is survived by widow Sharon Cole, and six children.