Apple Craig (right) with the other members of Israel Vibration, Lascelle 'Wiss' Bulgin and Cecil 'Skelly' Spence.

ALBERT 'APPLE' Craig, a founding member of roots-reggae group Israel Vibration, is destitute. The News Blaze newspaper in Folsom, California, reported last week that the singer, who left the group in 1997, has been homeless for some time.

The report said Apple has been in bad health and now suffers from seizures 'due to living in a mold-infested apartment for four years'.

Last week, the Reggae Festival E-Guide began accepting donations to assist the Rastafarian vocalist.

"There is so much more that Apple has in store for us musically. Let's show him how much we appreciate his contribution to us by giving back to him," the E-Guide said in a statement.

Tough times

Craig, who also lived at the Salvation Army and Alpha Boys School, is no stranger to tough times. In the liner notes of the Israel Vibration box set, Power Of The Trinity, he said he begged and slept on streets while he was at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre.

"I was like a lonely sheep in the wildnerness, I'd take my bath on the wharf, naked in front of people," he said. "I slept in old houses, old cars, I never lost my dignity or my mind."

The Power Of The Trinity was a strong seller for the trio. group member Cecil 'Skelly' Spence said. A divine spirit had brought them, and would keep them together.

"We are Shadrack, Meschak and Abendigo. Wi been through the fire and we're still holding on," he said.

Apple left Israel Vibration due to differences with Spence and Lascelle 'Wiss' Bulgin with whom he founded the group in the early 1970s. The three were once patients at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre in St Andrew, where they were treated for polio during the 1960s.

Harmony sound

The group lived and practised their harmony sound in the hills of August Town, recording for several producers before breaking through in 1979 with Same Song, produced by Tommy Cowan.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Israel Vibration was one of reggae's top touring acts in North America and Europe. They had several well-received albums for the Washington DC independent label RAS Records including Strength of My Life and On the Rock.

In 1995, they had a minor hit song in the US with Rudeboy Shuffling which was written by Apple.

After leaving 'Israel', Apple recorded one album, 1999's Another Moses.

Many reggae acts have found the going tough once their career lulled. Singer Junior Byles and pianist/singer Theophilus Beckford are just two who fit in that category. Byles, best known for songs like Fade Away and Curly Locks, has been troubled by mental illness since the early 1970s.

Beckford recorded the hit song Easy Snapping in 1959. He was a broken man in February 2001 when he was murdered by his neighbour.

Albert 'Apple' Craig