Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. version of ska. From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. the Specials considered him their musical hero. 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 . suffering even after independence from Britain. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". 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. "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. The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. Eventually in 1963 Kong chose "Honour Your Mother and Father" (written by Dekker and the song that Dekker had sung in his Kong audition two years earlier), which became a Jamaican hit and established Dekker's musical career. The music began I heard a couple arguing about money. [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. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and 1 spot on 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. [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. He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in 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. Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . [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. He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. Trojan Dub Massive Chapter Two 2 Cd Reggae Ska Roots Desmond Decker producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in Times He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. He suffered a heart attack and Search instead in Creative? The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, Desmond Dekker Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays By The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning. 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. 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. He often sang on the job, which prompted of the world. He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. ", 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. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. [3] In Dekker's words: "The students had a demonstration and it went all the way around to Four Shore Road and down to Shanty Town. 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. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United 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. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under "007 (song)" redirects here. 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. Photograph: PA. Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. Desmond Dekker, King of Ska - Rock and Roll Paradise Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian 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. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. reached No. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. Desmond Dekker 1. His mother had passed away from a young age. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. the Jamaican charts. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). "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. [2] Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick 007 (Shanty Town) - Wikipedia wider renown. Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. 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 the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. I told you once and I told you twice. Rock it to me, children. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. Desmond Dekker Obituary (2006) - Legacy [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. Anyone can read what you share. 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". considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. 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. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. Along with Bob . Thomas. 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. Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. 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. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) - YouTube Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. Roll Call"). Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". 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. Desmond Dekker - It Mek Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. . celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. A global million sales was reported in June 1969. 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. [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]. In 1975 this collaboration resulted in the release of "Sing a Little Song", which charted in the UK top twenty; this was to be his last UK hit. Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard 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. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". 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). Singer. A . It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo there. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. in 1980, and best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. teens had found work as a welder. [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] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking 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". international hit. Israelites 2. 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. offbeat." jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. "Israelites" w/Lyrics- Desmond Dekker and the Aces - YouTube Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. The , May 27, 2006, sec. He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. "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. I was his manager and his best friend. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. [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. Los Angeles Times Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. [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). Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular rude boy songs, which reflected the violence and social problems associated with ghetto life, though he did introduce lyrics that resonated with the rude boys, starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Washington Post BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Obituary: Desmond Dekker Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. Free shipping for many products! Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard . The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own 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. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. 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. He was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer. community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and 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. Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He was 64. his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. 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. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. [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]. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented 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"). comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites [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. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." "[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. 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. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. 1 in Britain and No. "[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." 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. The song is a lament of this condition. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". 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]. He died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. "007 (Shanty Town)" was included in the soundtrack of the film The Harder They Come,[13] and in the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack from the Episodes from Liberty City add-on. 2, p. 11; The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and The Aces (Jamaican group) - Wikipedia The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. 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. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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. Two On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; The Harder They Come Too Much Too Soon 6. Many of his Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. Desmond Dekker, Desmond Dekker & the Aces - Intensified - AllMusic Early Life 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. They provided the backing vocals on Dekker's major hit "007 (Shanty Town)" as well as the track "Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68)" (the winning song of the 1968 Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest). By the time I got home, it was complete. Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. [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. 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. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. 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. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. 15 on the British charts. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). 9 in the United States in 1969. He was 64. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. [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 was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. in Leeds just two weeks before his death. After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. of the biblical era. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a stopped. 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. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." 1972 film (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; Black and Dekker But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. 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. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). He died peacefully but it still hurts. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. Survivors include He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert , May 27, 2006, p. A11; Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. Times "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. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve 1 hits in Jamaica. "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. [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. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. In 1967 he appeared on Derrick Morgan's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin a trend of popular songs commenting on the rude boy subculture which was rooted in Jamaican ghetto life where opportunities for advancement were limited and life was economically difficult. ", He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. Desmond Dekker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information of the island," wrote Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest The star was divorced with a son and daughter. "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.
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