Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. It Mek 7. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. in Leeds just two weeks before his death. 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. . Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. 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]. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. [5] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town). "He died peacefully but it still hurts. (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; 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. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. He suffered a heart attack and community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" "[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. 1961. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. 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 added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". [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. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United [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. 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. [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. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. He was 64. Dekker, who lived in England, co 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". 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. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died I was his manager and his best friend. "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. teens had found work as a welder. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." 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. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking Intensified 4. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". 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. [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". Rock it to me, children. 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. A global million sales was reported in June 1969. The two had met hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. 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. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. career. and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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. The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. Anyone can read what you share. Survivors include 1 in Britain and made him a household name [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. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". His lyrics drew It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. 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. Problems 9. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. He was But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. The most successful track of his Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. international hit. 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 . It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. in 1980, and 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. "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. of the world. Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. born in 1941 or 1942. 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"). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. 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. Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. Black and Dekker Nincom Poop 8. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. States, but it reached No. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). An instrumental figure in the development of ska and its slightly mellower cousin, rocksteady, Dekker was also one the first reggae performers to break big in the U.K., laying the groundwork for that country's late 1970s 2 Tone movement. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. Roll Call"). The star was divorced with a son and daughter. "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. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. 1972 film What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly good. A few View their obituary at Legacy.com 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. 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". [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". [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. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". 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. [2] Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. 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"). Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. 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 Los Angeles Times 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). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. Chicago Tribune the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood 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. 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. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. Desmond Dekker. the Specials considered him their musical hero. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. ", 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. Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was 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. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." It's Not Easy 3. Tips of My Fingers 5. Rude. Times In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. 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)". charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the 1 in Jamaica. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . Desmond Dekker 1. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his 1 spot on Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick [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]. 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. 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. [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. 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. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. By the time I got home, it was complete. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. 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. He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later 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). Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. "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. The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. Compass Point Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. [6] Dekker also released "Problems" and "Pickney Gal", both of which were popular in Jamaica, although only "Pickney Gal" managed to chart in the UK top 50.[3]. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. 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. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. 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. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. 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. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own Privacy Policy & Terms of use. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . 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.