‘Important to keep Skill Cole’s memory, legacy alive’

One year and one month after his passing, family and friends of Allan ‘Skill’ Cole will celebrate his life at an event dubbed ‘Authentic’ at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Hope Road in St Andrew.

David Cole is firmly at the helm of this tribute set for Saturday, October 17, three days after what would have been his father’s 75th birthday. And while a huge part of it emanates from a son’s desire to honour his father, David emphasises that legacy and continuity are securely wrapped up in this first staging.

“The significance of this event is acknowledging this man for what he means to his family, his friends, and this country,” David told The Gleaner. “It is important to keep his memory and legacy alive.”

Skill Cole uniquely made history on the sporting field and was very well connected in entertainment as well. That double feature will be fully represented at the tribute in the form of the persons chosen as emcees – sporting legend Ali McNab and music legend Tommy Cowan.

One of Jamaica’s most celebrated footballers, Allan ‘Skill’ Cole debuted for the country’s senior national team at 15 years old and remains the youngest player to ever play for the team. Skill Cole was also the trusted road/tour manager and close friend of Bob Marley and helped establish the Tuff Gong label. He is credited as a co-writer on Marley’s 1976 track War and was with Marley during his final tour. He stayed close with Marley until the Reggae King’s passing in 1981.

David, a professional audio engineer, music producer, and tour manager, shared that the motivation for this event was strong.

“His forever loving friends [are] pleading for the preservation of this man’s contribution to Jamaican heritage,” he said.

Preservation, it would seem, was also on Skill Cole’s mind. David shared one of his lasting memories with his father.

“My significant memory of him is on one of my daily visits to him. He, out of nowhere, just started passionately stressing the importance of education for the next generation,” David said.

Emcee Tommy Cowan, who told The Gleaner that he “knew Skill Cole from back when he was a boy in Vineyard Town”, emphasised that an event of this nature “is the right thing to do”.

“Every year we celebrate Bob [Marley] on his birthday … and sometimes Dennis Brown … but most of our icons are not celebrated in a meaningful way. And it is important to do so,” the music impresario said.

“And it hit home again earlier this week when I was listening to a radio station out of London. They were playing Delroy Wilson’s music in tribute to him on his birthday,” he said.

Legendary reggae singer Delroy Wilson was born on October 5, 1948. He died on March 6, 1995.

Continuing, Cowan said, “Skill [Cole] is such an icon in the sporting world … and also in entertainment, especially through his friendship with Bob. And also remember that Skill and Sister Judy Mowatt [of I-Threes fame] share three children together, plus he assisted with production and did other music-related things for her. And ... on the sporting field, Skill and Ali McNab were such great friends that he named his son … Ali Cole … after him,” Cowan said.

Ali McNab, the legendary footballer and broadcaster, who is currently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Technology, told The Gleaner that it is important to always “sing the praises of Allan ‘Skill’ Cole”.

“I think we have not placed Allan in the proper position in football locally … and, unfortunately, when someone passes, we tend to close the book. We should never close the book on Allan ‘Skill’ Cole,” McNab said.

“He was the star of that Vere Technical breakout era, and he was one of 14 players Jamaicans – myself included – to play MLS in the United States,” McNab said as he recalled Cole’s legacy with the Brazilian team and his enduring contribution to music.

“The story of Allan ‘Skill’ Cole is rich, and Jamaica needs to know who this man is,” McNab declared.

“Friends and family will share openly their highlighted memories and sentiments, followed by a musical tribute to close it out,” he said.

Speaking about the nature of the event, David said it can be best described as a “warm, intimate gathering”.

Performing live at the tribute are I-Wayne, Warrior King, and T-Jean, with music by Rassarella.

Allan ‘Skill’ Cole was born on October 14, 1950, in Kingston. He died on September 9, 2025. He was 74,

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com