Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. 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. "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. of the island," wrote 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. 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. 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". 1 in Britain and made him a household name [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian 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. Israelites (song) - Wikipedia [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. 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. By the time I got home, it was complete. His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. 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. Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. Desmond Dekker - Cultural Jamaican Musical Talisman - uDiscover Music The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. Desmond Dekker, Desmond Dekker & the Aces - Intensified - AllMusic suffering even after independence from Britain. [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". [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. Desmond Dekker 1. Los Angeles Times He was 64. "It was an exciting time in His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger wider renown. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. LONDON (AP) - Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska music to the world with hits such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. the Jamaican charts. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". [1], Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest, "Jamaica Ska Legend Winston Samuels Is Dead - News Americas NowCaribbean and Latin America Daily News", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Aces_(Jamaican_group)&oldid=1117842044, Easton Barrington "Barry" Howard (19651969), Winston James Samuels (left 1969, died 2017), This page was last edited on 23 October 2022, at 21:37. "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. His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. "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. "Desmond Dekker and the Aces: Artist Chart History", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It_Mek&oldid=1057544344, Short description is different from Wikidata, Single chart usages for Belgium (Flanders), Single chart usages for Belgium (Wallonia), Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 November 2021, at 07:27. Rock it to me, children. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his He was of the world. A series of songs including "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul" made Mr. Dekker a hero of Jamaica's rough urban "rude boy" culture. Desmond Dekker - YouTube Music The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Notable groups who have covered "007 (Shanty Town)" include: The song has been sampled by Special Ed ("I'm the Magnificent") and Shaggy ("Bonafide Girl"). Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. 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). Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. Washington Post He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. Times Desmond Dekker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information With a younger generation 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. [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". 1972 film Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. "[8] The title has been the source of speculation,[9] but most settle on the Rastafarian Movement's association with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. 1 spot on Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. 2 in the UK charts. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. The music began international hit. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." Black and Dekker The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. Desmond Dekker Obituary (2006) - Legacy Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. [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. The song would return to the British charts in 1975 and was reissued as a single after being used in a commercial for Maxell recording tape in 1990. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [2] 15 on the British charts. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Intensified 4. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. He found fame with his band Desmond Dekker and the Aces - their international hit Israelites topped the UK charts and made the top 10 in the US. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. [1] The track was written by Dekker (under his real name of Desmond Dacres) and his record producer, Leslie Kong, and was recorded in Jamaica with the brass accompaniment added in the UK. DEKKER,DESMOND - 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - Amazon.com Music 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. . introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. "007 (Shanty Town)" was included in the soundtrack for Chocolate Skateboard's Las Nueve Vidas De Paco (1995), during the segment of professional skater Keenan Milton. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. Photograph: PA. Singer. Dekker was instrumental in popularizing the rude boy subculture, highlighting Jamaican ghetto life with 007 (Shanty Town), that became a working-class anthem for those in Jamaica and the United Kingdom. From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Desmond Dekker on Apple Music Desmond Dekker - This Is Desmond Dekkar Album Reviews, Songs & More Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . , May 27, 2006, sec. Many of his You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, Jamaica's post-colonial [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and [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". The Aces (Jamaican group) - Wikipedia The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Obituary: Desmond Dekker (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. States, but it reached No. "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. Early Life Times Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate He was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer. and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. Desmond Dekker - IMDb Desmond Dekker 5/2006. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". 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. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. [13] Too Much Too Soon 6. The 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. 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. Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. 1969. The Top 10 Desmond Dekker Songs - Jamaicans.com He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . [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. In 1990 "Israelites" was used in a Maxell TV advert that became popular and brought the song and artist back to the attention of the general public. [3], The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". in Leeds just two weeks before his death. Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". [3] In 1972 the rude boy film The Harder They Come was released and Dekker's "007 (Shanty Town)" was featured on the soundtrack along with Cliff's version of "You Can Get It If You Really Want", as well as other Jamaican artists' hits, giving reggae more international exposure and preparing the way for Bob Marley. Dekker, who lived in England, co years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking Desmond Dekker passed away. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. Desmond Dekker Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. Los Angeles Times died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. teens had found work as a welder. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . his music thanks to 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. 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - AllMusic Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Along with Bob . Desmond Dekker | Reggae | The Guardian version of ska. His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. [3], Dekker continued to release rude boy songs such as "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul", as well as mainstream cultural songs like "It's a Shame", "Wise Man", "Hey Grandma", "Unity", "If It Pays", "Mother's Young Girl", "Sabotage" and "Pretty Africa". He died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". [6], The 1980s found Dekker signed to a new label, Stiff Records, an independent label that specialized in punk and new wave acts as well as releases associated with the 2 Tone label, whose acts instigated a short-lived but influential ska revival. "Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & The Aces,[2] reaching the top of the charts in numerous countries in 1969. his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. Problems 9. Free shipping for many products! By the end of the decade, Mr. Dekker had won the Golden Trophy award, presented annually to Jamaica's top singer, five times and was known as the King of Bluebeat. 1 in Jamaica. Destitute ("slaving for bread") and unkempt ("Shirt dem a-tear up, trousers a-go"), some Rastafarians were tempted to a life of crime ("I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde"). of the biblical era. That same year saw the release of "Beautiful and Dangerous", "Writing on the Wall", "Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68)" (which won the 1968 Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest), "Bongo Girl" and "Shing a Ling". His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. the Specials considered him their musical hero. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. there. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. 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 Dekker | Culture Wikia | Fandom [5] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town). Desmond Dekker - Israelites Lyrics | Genius Lyrics of London obituary noted. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. I told you once and I told you twice. Intensified - Wikipedia The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded Anyone can read what you share. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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).Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really . "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a The two had met Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve 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)". Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". Singer. 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"). in 1980, and producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) - YouTube Search instead in Creative? Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. Desmond Dekker, voice of Jamaica's slums, dies at 64 [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a.