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. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. 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. He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. 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. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. Other successes included 007 (Shanty Town) and Rude Boy Train, which established him as an icon of Jamaica's 1960s rude boy scene - the ska subculture of sharp-suited urban youth who lead violent invasions of dancehall parties. considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. A few Desmond Dekker Biography - name, wife, mother, son, born, movie, time [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). 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)". , May 27, 2006, sec. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. [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". Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. 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). 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. He was 64. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. 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. I told you once and I told you twice. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name He was 64. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. Desmond Dekker - Cultural Jamaican Musical Talisman - uDiscover Music Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." 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. Desmond Dekker passed away. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. Desmond Dekker Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. "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. 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 continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. Musical An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. 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. He lived for his music and his children. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. the Specials considered him their musical hero. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." 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. May 25, 2006 - Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16th 1941 in Saint Andrew Parrish, Kingston, Jamaica. Desmond Dekker Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays By Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. 1 spot on 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. By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). 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. , May 27, 2006, p. A11; 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. 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. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. "007 (song)" redirects here. 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 . [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". 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. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". 1 in Britain and made him a household name [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. 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. [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. Desmond Dekker | Culture Wikia | Fandom Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. 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. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, All tracks composed by Desmond Dekker; except where indicated "It Mek" (Dekker, Leslie Kong) - 1:40 "Too Much Too Soon" (Dekker, Leslie Kong) - 2:38 "Coconut Water" - 3:27 "Sweet Music" - 2:29 Desmond Dekker 1. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. 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. reached No. Desmond Dekker - Rate Your Music This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. 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 . [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]. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. 1 in Britain and No. Desmond Dekker. offbeat." BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. 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. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. 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. For Once in My Life (Missing Lyrics) 10. Other hits include "007", "It Mek" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want". BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Obituary: Desmond Dekker Times But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Nincom Poop 8. Trojan Dub Massive Chapter Two 2 Cd Reggae Ska Roots Desmond Decker His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Photograph: PA. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. [13] Desmond Dekker 5/2006. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. "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. Many of his Early Life Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. 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"). "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a Desmond Dekker - IMDb His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. It's Not Easy 3. [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. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. 2, p. 11; Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. 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. With a younger generation career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. His lyrics drew It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. Two Tips of My Fingers 5. Times His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to 2 in the UK charts. 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. Desmond Dekker, King of Ska - Rock and Roll Paradise It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, 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. Desmond Dekker Obituary (2006) - Legacy "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. 1 hits in Jamaica. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. The Harder They Come [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. [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". [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . The most successful track of his 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]. Desmond Dekker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information "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. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. The song would return to the British charts in 1975 and was reissued as a single after being used in a commercial for Maxell recording tape in 1990. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. [1] By 1967, the only remaining members were Barry Howard and Winston Samuels and it was their backing vocals that featured on Dekker's track, "Israelites". Intensified - Wikipedia years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking born in 1941 or 1942. 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. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. [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]. 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. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." 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. 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 died peacefully but it still hurts. 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"). He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. . 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. 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). Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. 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. 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 . more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late [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. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. of the island," wrote 1969. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. 007 (Shanty Town) - Wikipedia 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. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick "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. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. 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 singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. By the time I got home, it was complete. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. Three years later, Mr. Dekker had his first British Top 20 hit with "007 (Shanty Town)," a tale of rude-boy ghetto violence "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail" sung in a thick patois, which Americans would hear later as part of the soundtrack to the film "The Harder They Come" in 1972. The two had met "[4], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died Home | DESMOND DEKKER Reggae singer Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his 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. Israelites 2. I heard a couple arguing about money. career. 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. His mother had passed away from a young age. 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". His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian