be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. 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. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and Jamaica's post-colonial Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. He was of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. The song is a lament of this condition. A . "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . Problems 9. [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. career. [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. From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. 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. I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' 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. But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Los Angeles Times On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; 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. of the world. [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. He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. Free shipping for many products! teens had found work as a welder. [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. Anyone can read what you share. his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert Nincom Poop 8. He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. 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]. 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]. With a younger generation He was 64. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. 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. and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. version of ska. States, but it reached No. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick 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. Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. 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. [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. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. "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. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. 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. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still generations of fans. 1 hits in Jamaica. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. [13] In 1962 "Judge Not" and "One Cup Of Coffee" became the first recorded efforts of Marley, who retained gratitude, respect and admiration for Dekker for the rest of his life. In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. 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. 15 on the British charts. [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). UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". [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. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and 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. It's Not Easy 3. Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. 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. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. 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 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. , May 27, 2006, p. A11; He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to of London obituary noted. 1 in Jamaica. Other hits include "007", "It Mek" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want". Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. 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. Compass Point "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United 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. "[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." 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). It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. [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". It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. the Jamaican charts. 1 in Britain and No. 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. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger a year later. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. [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. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. 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"). hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under "[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. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. He died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. By the time I got home, it was complete. By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far.". [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". suffering even after independence from Britain. [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]. Rock it to me, children. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) Weedy Weed Smoker 7.04K subscribers Subscribe 349K views 5 years ago Music video by Desmond Dekker performing Israelites. Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. 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. [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. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. "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 film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. , May 27, 2006, sec. 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]. Reggae singer Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64. 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 two had met 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. Dekker, who lived in England, co On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Israelites 2. He died peacefully but it still hurts. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. 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). even the most obscure ones.". Roll Call"). Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. But that song was treated as a novelty. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. 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. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. Desmond Dekker. New York Times [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. 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. Join our newsletter to get the latest articles, news, & videos. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. His mother had passed away from a young age. 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. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. Copyright Simbis Inc.All rights reserved. "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. He was 64. Although newcomers should be directed to Trojan's 1997 best-of, The Original Rude Boy, among the many retrospectives, fans of Dekker and original Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and founding reggae are well served by this narrowly focused CD. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. The Sung in Jamaican creole, some of the song's lyrics were not readily understood by many British and American listeners at the time of its release. In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." 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. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. [3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. 1 spot on I was his manager and his best friend. 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. 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"). ", 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. Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. He was 64. Two journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. 2 in the UK charts. Black and Dekker "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 told you once and I told you twice. of the island," wrote Desmond Dekker 5/2006. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his in Leeds just two weeks before his death. From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." "007 (song)" redirects here. [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. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented international hit. Many of his His lyrics drew Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. 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. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. Intensified 4. 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. Too Much Too Soon 6. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits . [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. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. 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. The Harder They Come [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Los Angeles Times years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. 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! Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. "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. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s,