a year later. By the time I got home, it was complete. [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. [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. teens had found work as a welder. He was 64. 1 in Jamaica. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. Desmond Dekker, was born in Jamaica's Saint Andrew Parish on July 16, 1941, and was an early influencer with one of the earliest reggae hits, "Israelites." The ska, reggae and rock steady singer, songwriter and musician was introduced to music through the local church he attended as a child. of the world. 1969. Tips of My Fingers 5. Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . The music began She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. [2] "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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]. more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. Join our newsletter to get the latest articles, news, & videos. 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. 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. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. Desmond Dekker passed away. 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. "[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. The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. The song has appeared in numerous movies and television programs,[14] including the soundtracks of the 1989 American film Drugstore Cowboy and the 2010 British film Made in Dagenham. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. 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. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. Free shipping for many products! The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. The most successful track of his Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. 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. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. View their obituary at Legacy.com He lived for his music and his children. 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. Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. Los Angeles Times The Harder They Come 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. there. "They know all the words to his songs, His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. 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). [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. Copyright Simbis Inc.All rights reserved. "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 in Britain and No. ", He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . With a younger generation Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican 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." The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. version of ska. Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded [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, 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. By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. His fourth hit, "King of Ska" (backing vocals by The Cherrypies, also known as The Maytals), made him into one of the island's biggest stars. [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, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Intensified 4. Rock it to me, children. his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. The two had met the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name 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. He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. 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. 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. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. 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. He was 64. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." even the most obscure ones.". 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. [13] 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. journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, 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. [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. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. career. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly good. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. Survivors include Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. [5] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town). 1 spot on 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for TROJAN DUB MASSIVE CHAPTER TWO 2 CD REGGAE SKA ROOTS DESMOND DECKER 40th lp 45 at the best online prices at eBay! 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 [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick 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. Too Much Too Soon 6. 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. I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. Los Angeles Times As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. May 25, 2006 - Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16th 1941 in Saint Andrew Parrish, Kingston, Jamaica. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. Compass Point Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. 9 in the United States in 1969. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. born in 1941 or 1942. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. 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. Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. 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. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. 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"). [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. . He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. "007 (song)" redirects here. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. He was 2, p. 11; 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. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. 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. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. 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. 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. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, Desmond Dekker, was born in Jamaicas Saint Andrew Parish on July 16, 1941, and was an early influencer with one of the earliest reggae hits, Israelites. The ska, reggae and rock steady singer, songwriter and musician was introduced to music through the local church he attended as a child. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. 30," Steffens said. Anyone can read what you share. Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. 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 . The song is a lament of this condition. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. But that song was treated as a novelty. of the biblical era. 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. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. "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. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. 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. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. 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. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . "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. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, ", 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. It Mek 7. 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. "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 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. "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. 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. stopped. Other hits include "007", "It Mek" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want". I heard a couple arguing about money. [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. 1 in Britain and made him a household name Roll Call"). Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year.