October 15th 2025.
On October 11th, a Thanksgiving service was held at Jamaica's National Arena to honor the life of Jamaican football star and former manager of Bob Marley, Allan "Skill" Cole. The service was attended by some of the biggest names in reggae such as Stephen Marley, Beenie Man, and Carlene Davis, who all came to pay their respects to a man who had a profound impact on both the music industry and the Rastafari community in Jamaica.
Cole passed away on September 9th at the age of 74 at The University Hospital of the West Indies. While he was known as a successful international football player, he was also highly regarded for his role in the growth of reggae music and his support for the Rastafari movement in Jamaica.
During the Thanksgiving service, many Jamaican musicians offered musical tributes to Cole, including Herman 'Bongo Herman' Davis, Dean Frazer, and Denzil 'Dipstick' Williams, who was a close friend of Cole's. Williams chose to perform a rendition of Joe Higgs' 1983 song "Ah So It Go" as it held a special significance to him and he believed it was a fitting tribute to Cole.
In an interview with The Jamaica Gleamer, Williams shared, "I chose this song because it was written by one of Bob Marley's teachers, Joe Higgs. It really resonated with me and I thought it would be perfect for this occasion. I changed it up a bit to make it more suitable for the event, and the response from the crowd was amazing. I feel honored to have been able to sing this song because at the end of the day, life goes on."
Williams also reflected on his long-standing friendship with Cole, which began when they were both growing up in Trench Town, a neighborhood that played a significant role in the early days of reggae music. It was there that they were influenced by Rastafari elder Mortimer Planno, who was a mentor to Bob Marley and a strong supporter of Marcus Garvey's Back-to-Africa movement.
Trench Town was known as the "mecca of music" and it was where Marley often spent his time connecting with Cole, who later became the tour manager for Bob Marley and The Wailers in the 1970s. Cole's contributions to the band's Rastaman Vibration album included co-writing the iconic song "War" in 1976, which featured lyrics from a speech by Haile Selassie.
The bond between Cole and Marley remained strong until Marley's passing in 1981. In fact, just a year before Marley's death, Cole had caught him when he collapsed while jogging in New York City and carried him back to his hotel.
Aside from his achievements in the world of football and music, Cole was also known for his advocacy against discrimination towards the Rastafari movement. He famously confronted radio stations that refused to play Bob Marley and The Wailers' 1974 single "Rebel Music" and was a strong voice for equal rights and acceptance.
Cole leaves behind his wife, Sharon Cole, and six children. His legacy and impact on Jamaican culture and music will never be forgotten. In fact, his influence can still be seen today as artists like Shabba Ranks and Shenseea join Damian Marley for the 10th anniversary Jamrock Reggae Cruise lineup. Allan "Skill" Cole will always be remembered as a true Jamaican hero.
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