their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." suffering even after independence from Britain. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. 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. [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 had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. The two had met Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular rude boy songs, which reflected the violence and social problems associated with ghetto life, though he did introduce lyrics that resonated with the rude boys, starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". For Once in My Life (Missing Lyrics) 10. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. 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. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. He was 64. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still Singer. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, [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, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". offbeat." Musical The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. of the world. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. "007 (Shanty Town)" was included in the soundtrack of the film The Harder They Come,[13] and in the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack from the Episodes from Liberty City add-on. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. Paul McCartney slipped Mr. Dekker's first name into the lyrics to the Beatles' ska song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," on "The Beatles" (also known as the White Album) in 1968, the year Mr. Dekker moved to England. Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo He lived for his music and his children. comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. He was orphaned as a teenager but made a success for himself after signing with Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and releasing his first single, Honour Your Father and Mother, in 1963, a paean. The song is a lament of this condition. I told you once and I told you twice. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. The Harder They Come Rude. 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. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. 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. I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the 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 had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . [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. 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. With a younger generation 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). 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). 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]. the Jamaican charts. "It was an exciting time in Join our newsletter to get the latest articles, news, & videos. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. 2 in the UK charts. "[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. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. 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. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. Tips of My Fingers 5. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. ", Reggae DJ Daddy Ernie, of Choice FM in London, said: "Any history book that you pick up on reggae, Desmond Dekker's name will have to be in there. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. 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. "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. generations of fans. A global million sales was reported in June 1969. international hit. "They know all the words to his songs, He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". He often sang on the job, which prompted Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. 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. He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, 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. a year later. [5] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. 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). Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. 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. , May 27, 2006, p. A11; tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . [3], The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. 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 . 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. 1 hits in Jamaica. 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. 1972 film "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. Intensified 4. [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, The music began He died peacefully but it still hurts. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. "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. . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "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. Track listing. 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. At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. 30," Steffens said. [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. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". "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. It's Not Easy 3. 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 . "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. [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. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. 1 in Jamaica. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve Singer. more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late , May 30, 2006, p. B7. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. 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. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. 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. The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. Rock it to me, children. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. 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. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. 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. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. 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. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several [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". [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. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. Los Angeles Times wider renown. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." 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. But that song was treated as a novelty. His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and the Specials considered him their musical hero. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded I was his manager and his best friend. . From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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. Nincom Poop 8. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the 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. his music thanks to [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United 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").