The star was divorced with a son and daughter. Los Angeles Times [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. He died peacefully but it still hurts. Together with his backing group The Aces, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Two He died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. "They know all the words to his songs, 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. 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. The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. New York Times In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. of the island," wrote "The Israelites" reached No. 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 passed away. 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. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. A global million sales was reported in June 1969. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his [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. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking 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. Dekker, who lived in England, co He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. The most successful track of his When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. [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. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. He often sang on the job, which prompted lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. 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. which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. generations of fans. "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. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, [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). Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. 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). Thomas. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. Although Mr. Dekker had no further hits in the United States, he continued to have hits in England with "It Mek" in 1969 and the first recording of Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It if You Really Want" in 1970. Anyone can read what you share. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. A . Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. "[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. "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. suffering even after independence from Britain. [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. international hit. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the 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"). His lyrics drew It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. "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. [3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under By the time I got home, it was complete. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. stopped. From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a 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 Steffens told Stewart in the 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 musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, View their obituary at Legacy.com The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). 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. ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". 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. Photograph: PA. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. 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. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. even the most obscure ones.". But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. ", 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. offbeat." [13] "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. 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. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . [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. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. "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. 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. [4] "007 (Shanty Town)" was a top 15 hit in the UK and his UK concerts were attended by a large following of mods wherever he played. of London obituary noted. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". [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. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. 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. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. Desmond Dekker. I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. 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 . Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. , May 27, 2006, p. A11; His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to [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. Reggae singer Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". With a younger generation in 1980, and [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 and the Aces: Artist Chart History", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It_Mek&oldid=1057544344, Short description is different from Wikidata, Single chart usages for Belgium (Flanders), Single chart usages for Belgium (Wallonia), Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 November 2021, at 07:27. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. 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]. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. [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. best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. [13], Dekker had two more UK Top 10 hits over the next year, "It Miek" and his cover of Jimmy Cliff's song "You Can Get It If You Really Want". From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Search instead in Creative? an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. Born Desmond Dacres in 1941, Dekker worked as a welder in Kingston before signing with Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and releasing his first single, "Honor Your Father and Your Mother," in . Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. The Harder They Come It's Not Easy 3. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. [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. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. 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. 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. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, [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 Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. The music began Compass Point more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late 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. Tips of My Fingers 5. 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 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. He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. 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. 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. 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. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. 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". "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and A few version of ska. Israelites 2. 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 . 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. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. Early Life But that song was treated as a novelty. Many of his But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. 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. 1972 film 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. and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. 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". The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. 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. reached No.