[3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. [1] By 1967, the only remaining members were Barry Howard and Winston Samuels and it was their backing vocals that featured on Dekker's track, "Israelites". Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. Desmond Dekker unleashed a flood of fine singles across the '60s and early '70s, all under the aegis of producer Leslie Kong.Taking a chance on an untried youngster barely into his teens, who'd already been shown the door by Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid, Kong nurtured Dekker to international stardom, only to die suddenly in 1971, two years after the singer's breakthrough. Together with his backing group The Aces, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. 9 in the United States in 1969. His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. Dekker's last gig was in Leeds on 11 May (Photo: egigs.co.uk), Dekker's hits included Israelites, It Mek and 007 (Shanty Town), The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, BBC Radio 2's Mark Lamarr pays tribute to Desmond Dekker. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a Dekker, who lived in England, co 2 in the UK charts. By the 1980s, he was signed to Stiff Records and his music created a short-term revival of ska, but he was bankrupt by 1984. Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon in Jamaica and also became a favourite dance track for the young working-class men and women of the United Kingdom's mod scene. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. Together with his backing group The Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites" (1968). "They know all the words to his songs, "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. Desmond Adolphus Dacres (Desmond Dekker), singer and songwriter, born July 16 1941; died May 25 2006, Jamaican singer best known for The Israelites and It Miek, he helped launch the career of Bob Marley, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, It Mek - Wikipedia suffering even after independence from Britain. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. Desmond Dekker - Rate Your Music "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United In 1962 "Judge Not" and "One Cup Of Coffee" became the first recorded efforts of Marley, who retained gratitude, respect and admiration for Dekker for the rest of his life. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. Dekker wrote the song after watching news coverage of a student demonstration against government plans to build an industrial complex on land close to the beach, which descended into violence. The 2006 to 2015 line-up for Dekker's backing band, The Aces, who are still performing tribute concerts, includes: This particular line-up also recorded with Dekker on some of his later studio sessions in the 1990s. Manager Delroy Williams said the Jamaica-born performer had seemed fine when they met a day earlier, adding: "I don't think I will ever get over this. His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. This double disc set features every major UK and Jamaican chart hit by the first King of Reggae, all sourced from the original analog master tapes. Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry Howard, as his permanent backing vocalists to perform with him under the name Desmond Dekker and the Aces. The It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. The Aces (Jamaican group) - Wikipedia Survivors include (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; teens had found work as a welder. He was 64. 1 in Jamaica. His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. Home | DESMOND DEKKER [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. 007 (Shanty Town) - Wikipedia Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. Track listing. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. As a teenager he worked in a welding shop alongside Bob Marley and auditioned unsuccessfully for various producers until Mr. Marley encouraged him to try out for his own first producer, Leslie Kong. It was one of the first reggae songs to become an international hit, despite Dekker's strong Jamaican accent which made his lyrics difficult to understand for many listeners outside Jamaica.[10]. [3] In Dekker's words: "The students had a demonstration and it went all the way around to Four Shore Road and down to Shanty Town. "007 (Shanty Town)" is a 1967 rocksteady song by Jamaican band Desmond Dekker and the Aces, released as a single from their debut album of the same name. "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. Desmond Dekker - IMDb "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and Kong, whose music production skills had been a crucial part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971, affecting the careers of both artists for a short period of time. [2] "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. Desmond Dekker - This Is Desmond Dekkar Album Reviews, Songs & More His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. Despite declining sales, Dekker remained a popular live performer and continued to tour with The Rumour. Desmond Dekker - Cultural Jamaican Musical Talisman - uDiscover Music He was 64. With a younger generation He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. offbeat." Desmond Dekker was the first to have hit records outside of Jamaica and his influence on young white British teenagers was pivotal to his success in the 1960s. Desmond Dekker in Comanche Park video Sony Records (1994), Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest, "Desmond Dekker - full Official Chart History", "Desmond Dekker Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography", "British certifications Desmond Dekker", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desmond_Dekker&oldid=1133815021, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Jamaican English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Aubrey Mulrain keyboard player and session musician, Steve Roberts guitarist and session musician (also a member of the British band Dubzone), Stan Samuel guitarist and session musician, Charles Nelson keyboard player and session musician, Delroy Williams Vocals (also featuring guests Winston 'Mr Fix It' Francis and Glenroy Oakley from Greyhound 'Black & White'), Gordon Mulrain bass guitarist and session musician, Learoy Green drums, backing vocals and session musician, Bryan Campbell Keyboard player and session musician, Steve Baker Guitarist, backing vocals, peripatetic guitar teacher and session guitarist. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. [8] King of Kings consists of songs by Dekker's musical heroes including Byron Lee; Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Cliff, and his friend and fellow Kong label artist, Derrick Morgan. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. Intensified 4. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. [5] Despite its cautionary sentiment, it cemented Dekker's popularity among rude boys in Jamaica,[2][6] in contrast to Dekker's earlier music, which espoused traditional morals such as parental respect and the importance of education. journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [1], The original recording of "007" (without the 'Shanty Town') was produced by Leslie Kong and originally released as a single on the Pyramid label. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). Mr Dekker was born Desmond Dacres on July 16, 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and started working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. [2][12], Dekker recorded on the Pyramid record label, and when its catalogue was acquired by Cactus Records in 1975, "Israelites" was re-issued in a first-time stereo mix. Desmond Dekker, who has died of a heart attack aged 64 in Surrey, was one of the first Jamaican vocalists to make a significant impact outside the land of his birth. [13] ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve Three years later, Mr. Dekker had his first British Top 20 hit with "007 (Shanty Town)," a tale of rude-boy ghetto violence "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail" sung in a thick patois, which Americans would hear later as part of the soundtrack to the film "The Harder They Come" in 1972. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. . I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' career. Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) Trojan Records Official 109K subscribers Subscribe 40K Share 3.5M views 3 years ago #Pyramid #Israelites #rocksteady Between 1967. Washington Post It's Not Easy 3. The most successful track of his migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate Reggae singer Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64. "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up for this summer and he was looking forward to it - and then that was it," Mr Williams said. From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. the Jamaican charts. Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. Early Life The chords of the guitar accompaniment are played on the offbeat and move through the tonic chord [B flat], the subdominant [E flat], the dominant [F], and the occasional [D flat],[5] viz, [B flat] - [E flat] - [F] - [B flat] - [D flat]. An instrumental figure in the development of ska and its slightly mellower cousin, rocksteady, Dekker was also one the first reggae performers to break big in the U.K., laying the groundwork for that country's late 1970s 2 Tone movement. [1] Dekker's international success led to him touring overseas, although The Aces did not accompany him due to Samuels refusal to fly (Samuels stating that "Rastas did not fly on iron birds") and Barry Howard's decision to emigrate to the United States. Rude. But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. [13], Dekker had two more UK Top 10 hits over the next year, "It Miek" and his cover of Jimmy Cliff's song "You Can Get It If You Really Want". His lyrics drew Eventually in 1963 Kong chose "Honour Your Mother and Father" (written by Dekker and the song that Dekker had sung in his Kong audition two years earlier), which became a Jamaican hit and established Dekker's musical career. a year later. [7] A re-recorded version of "Israelites" was released in 1980 on the Stiff label, followed by other new recordings: Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Book of Rules". [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. Desmond Dekker passed away. [12][13], Dekker died of a heart attack on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, England, aged 64[3] and was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery. [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. Tips of My Fingers 5. park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still of the world. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. Together with his backing group The Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites" (1968). Mr Williams described the singer as a private person who would go back to Jamaica from time to time but only to see his family rather than to perform: "He wasn't out there like other stars partying all the time, he just did his job. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; A . He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. there. Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) Weedy Weed Smoker 7.04K subscribers Subscribe 349K views 5 years ago Music video by Desmond Dekker performing Israelites. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in 30," Steffens said. Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Although newcomers should be directed to Trojan's 1997 best-of, The Original Rude Boy, among the many retrospectives, fans of Dekker and original Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and founding reggae are well served by this narrowly focused CD. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. Desmond Dekker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. Other successes included 007 (Shanty Town) and Rude Boy Train, which established him as an icon of Jamaica's 1960s rude boy scene - the ska subculture of sharp-suited urban youth who lead violent invasions of dancehall parties. He was "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. Two He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. Mark Lamarr, presenter of BBC Radio 2's Reggae Show, said: "He probably was the first reggae superstar to have hits outside Jamaica in the US and UK. tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. Also founder & MD of popular Reggae and Ska Tribute/backing band, Paul Abraham Guitarist and backing vocals, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 17:21. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. Anyone can read what you share. "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. "The Israelites" reached No. 1 hits in Jamaica. 1 spot on Sung in Jamaican creole, some of the song's lyrics were not readily understood by many British and American listeners at the time of its release. The Harder They Come of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. Mr Williams said: "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up for this summer and he was looking forward to it - and then that was it. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. Desmond Dekker | Culture Wikia | Fandom "I was telling people not to give up as things will get better," he said in a interview last year for the Set the Tone 67 Web site. Desmond Dekker, the orphan who trained as a welder alongside one Robert Marley and led the march of Jamaican music on to the global charts, has died aged 64. his music thanks to [8] The single was a number one hit in Jamaica and reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the first Jamaican-produced record to reach the UK top 20. Originally issued in Jamaica as "Poor Me Israelites",[7] it remains the best known Jamaican reggae hit to reach the United States Hot 100's top 10,[5] and was written almost two years after Dekker first made his mark with the rude boy song "007 (Shanty Town)". He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. In the 1960s, Jamaican Rastafarians were largely marginalized as "cultish" and ostracized from the larger society, including by the more conservative Christian church in Kingston. Musical Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his They provided the backing vocals on Dekker's major hit "007 (Shanty Town)" as well as the track "Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68)" (the winning song of the 1968 Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest). The "007" riddim was revived in 2007 for a series of releases on Beverley's Records, forming the basis of singles from Joseph Cotton ("Ship Sail"), Mike Brooks ("Blam Blam Blam"), The Blackstones ("Out a Road"), and Dennis Alcapone ("D.J. jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and reached No. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. Born July 16, 1941 Died May 24, 2006 (64) Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list Known for Fool's Gold 5.7 Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. "It was an exciting time in New York Times It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Desmond Dekker Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays By He lived for his music and his children. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. Jamaica's post-colonial I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far.". Desmond Dekker on Apple Music "[3] According to the liner notes for the Dekker compilation album Rockin' Steady The Best of Desmond Dekker the phrase was also used as a schoolyard taunt roughly meaning "that's what you get." Join our newsletter to get the latest articles, news, & videos. [4] "007 (Shanty Town)" was a top 15 hit in the UK and his UK concerts were attended by a large following of mods wherever he played. Los Angeles Times Desmond Dekker | Reggae | The Guardian For the secondary James Bond theme, see, O'Brien Chang, Kevin & Chen, Wayne (1998), Soundtrack for the ages: 40 Years of Harder They Come, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=007_(Shanty_Town)&oldid=1099693912, This page was last edited on 22 July 2022, at 03:53. The themes of Dekker's songs during the first four years of his career dealt with the moral, cultural and social issues of mainstream Jamaican culture: respect for one's parents ("Honour Your Mother and Father"), religious morality ("Sinners Come Home") and education ("Labour for Learning"). of London obituary noted. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. He suffered a heart attack and [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". of the island," wrote their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. Desmond Dekker 1. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. version of ska. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. He was 64. In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. 1 in Britain and made him a household name Copyright Simbis Inc.All rights reserved. Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. It Mek (sometimes appearing as "A It Mek" or German language "It Miek") was a 1969 hit song by the Jamaican musicians Desmond Dekker & the Aces. A string of hits followed with "Reggae Motion", "Take a Look", "Oh I Miss You", "Call Me Number One", "Be My Baby", and "Sad Sad Song". 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - AllMusic The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. But that song was treated as a novelty. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and Musical pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve wider renown.

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