It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. Musical Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. 15 on the British charts. 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. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. [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 died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. He was 64. 2 in the UK charts. Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. 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. [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. 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. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. He was 64. He was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer. It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. [2] View their obituary at Legacy.com Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. [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". With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". Thomas. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. [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". His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". , May 27, 2006, p. A11; [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; Black and Dekker In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. [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. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. 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 . 2, p. 11; 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. The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. 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. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. of the island," wrote [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. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. With a younger generation migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate 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. 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. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented "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. I was his manager and his best friend. Intensified 4. 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. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). "It was an exciting time in "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. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. stopped. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. Survivors include the Specials considered him their musical hero. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. He often sang on the job, which prompted Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. the Jamaican charts. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. 1 in Britain and made him a household name Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard Roll Call"). 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 died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. 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. Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, 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. Search instead in Creative? Washington Post 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. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" "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. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. A few charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking 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. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. 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. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. . version of ska. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. Anyone can read what you share. ", He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. 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. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. Steffens told Stewart in the Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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. [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. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. His lyrics drew which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. Dekker, who lived in England, co 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. By the time I got home, it was complete. career. 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. 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. Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . I dig you out and you're cool, girl. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. even the most obscure ones.". Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". Problems 9. At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. 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]. 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). The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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. Singer. of the biblical era. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. offbeat." given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the It's Not Easy 3. In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. 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. [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). Times 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"). "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. Free shipping for many products! Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later 1 in Britain and No. a year later. 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 movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and 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. his music thanks to Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. "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. "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. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. 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. 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. His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. [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. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. "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. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984.