Desmond Dekker passed away. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, 1969. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. 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. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. He died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. Washington Post He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker is a two-disc collection that features 25 classic hits from Dekker's catalog, as well as another 25 rare and unreleased sides including alternate takes of some of the artist's fan favorites of the '60s and '70s. It Mek - Wikipedia The most successful track of his BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies born in 1941 or 1942. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. [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. 2 in the UK charts. Two In 1967 he appeared on Derrick Morgan's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin a trend of popular songs commenting on the rude boy subculture which was rooted in Jamaican ghetto life where opportunities for advancement were limited and life was economically difficult. "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. jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and 007 (Shanty Town) - Wikipedia in 1980, and Los Angeles Times In 1975 this collaboration resulted in the release of "Sing a Little Song", which charted in the UK top twenty; this was to be his last UK hit. But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. [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. He often sang on the job, which prompted His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. 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], The original recording of "007" (without the 'Shanty Town') was produced by Leslie Kong and originally released as a single on the Pyramid label. He was 64. Singer. Desmond Dekker, King of Ska - Rock and Roll Paradise The Aces (Jamaican group) - Wikipedia Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. Reggae legend, Dekker, dies - The New York Times I told you once and I told you twice. in Leeds just two weeks before his death. Trojan Dub Massive Chapter Two 2 Cd Reggae Ska Roots Desmond Decker He was 64. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up Adinah" (credited as The Four Aces). an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". The two had met "Honour Thy Father and Mother" was released in Britain in 1964 on Chris Blackwell's Island label, which would later release Bob Marley's albums. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. 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. [4] It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns,[5] to make what has been described as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".[6]. , May 27, 2006, sec. 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. 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. [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, Tips of My Fingers 5. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. [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 | Reggae | The Guardian [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. Singer. The Top 10 Desmond Dekker Songs - Jamaicans.com Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. Desmond Dekker 1. Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". 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). This was the sense used in the song's lyrics, which metaphorically tell of the problems that happens when someone (such as a lover) goes too far. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. 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. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. Jamaican Spiced Easter Bun Recipe: Kerri-Anns 9 Side Dishes Jamaicans Serve with Jerk Chicken, The 6 Soups Every Jamaican Should Know How to Cook. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. 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 He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. View their obituary at Legacy.com The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented [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". 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 . years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. Desmond Dekker on Apple Music ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. Steffens told Stewart in the The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. Intensified - Wikipedia From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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". 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. 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 singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. A few his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. [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". The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. "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. 1 hits in Jamaica. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. [3], In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites" was released, eventually topping the UK Singles Chart in April 1969 and peaking in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1969. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Copyright Simbis Inc.All rights reserved. Track listing. The 7 Breakfast Dishes Every Jamaican Should Know How Jamaican Men Say Thank You to another Jamaican How Jamaicans Greet You When They Have Not Seen You 20 English Words That Sound Better In Jamaican Patois. He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. 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. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, He lived for his music and his children. Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. With a younger generation Compass Point His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music 2, p. 11; By the time I got home, it was complete. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. Desmond Dekker, voice of Jamaica's slums, dies at 64 On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) - YouTube A . He recorded an album called Black & Dekker (1980), which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker's backing band and Akrylykz (featuring Roland Gift, later of Fine Young Cannibals). Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. "[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. Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. I heard a couple arguing about money. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick 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. It Mek 7. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. 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. New York Times 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. "[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." . the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . The . 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. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. 1 in Jamaica. Times 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - AllMusic Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo 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. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' of the island," wrote His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. DEKKER,DESMOND - 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - Amazon.com Music Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. 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. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. [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. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. [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. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "They know all the words to his songs, His mother had passed away from a young age. The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. 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. best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a Desmond Dekker - Cultural Jamaican Musical Talisman - uDiscover Music and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). his music thanks to 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). He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. 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. 15 on the British charts. 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"). Desmond Dekker - Wikipedia He was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer. Desmond Dekker Obituary (2006) - Legacy Chicago Tribune 1961. He suffered a heart attack and [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. [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. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. 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. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. View history " 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. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. Survivors include In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. All tracks composed by Desmond Dekker; except where indicated "It Mek" (Dekker, Leslie Kong) - 1:40 "Too Much Too Soon" (Dekker, Leslie Kong) - 2:38 "Coconut Water" - 3:27 "Sweet Music" - 2:29 Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard Home | DESMOND DEKKER Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. ", He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. Israelites 2. Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard "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. 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. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still of London obituary noted. [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. 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 - IMDb , May 27, 2006, p. A11; List of number-one singles from the 1960s (UK), List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States, "Israelites / The Man - Desmond Dekker & The Aces", "Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Beverley's All Stars - Poor Me Israelites / Fly Right", Desmond Dekker and the Aces Israelites", The Irish Charts Search Results Israelites", "Desmond Dekker & the Aces: Artist Chart History", "Desmond Dekker The Aces Chart History (Hot 100)", Offiziellecharts.de Desmond Dekker and the Aces Israelites", "British single certifications Desmond Dekker & The Aces Israelites", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israelites_(song)&oldid=1134128754, Short description is different from Wikidata, Single chart usages for Belgium (Flanders), Single chart usages for Belgium (Wallonia), Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming figures, Pages using certification Table Entry with streaming footnote, Articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "My Precious World (The Man)" by Beverley's All Stars, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 03:48. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major 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. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. 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. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK.