given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by 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. the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. Singer. 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. [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". Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an ", 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. celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". 1 in Britain and made him a household name ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . 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. 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. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert Rude. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. Early Life "It was an exciting time in Steffens told Stewart in the 2 in the UK charts. in 1980, and [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. , May 27, 2006, sec. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. 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. made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. [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. 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. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. Los Angeles Times Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. 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. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. 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 Jamaican charts. Jamaica's post-colonial 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). He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. generations of fans. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. Israelites 2. But that song was treated as a novelty. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). Free shipping for many products! "They know all the words to his songs, Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was 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"). Black and Dekker Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. [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. By the 1980s, he was signed to Stiff Records and his music created a short-term revival of ska, but he was bankrupt by 1984. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. He suffered a heart attack and "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, teens had found work as a welder. From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. wider renown. Thomas. 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. 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. The He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. [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". At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. his music thanks to A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. He was 64. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. 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]. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; Chicago Tribune Too Much Too Soon 6. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. 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. 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. of the world. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. [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. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th 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). 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. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). With a younger generation In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. 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. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. of the island," wrote He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. [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. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking 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. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. 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". 1 in Jamaica. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. [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. 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. their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. 30," Steffens said. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. "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. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. 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 . This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still The two had met [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. 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. 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)". I dig you out and you're cool, girl. 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. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. [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. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several Dekker, who lived in England, co Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. 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. 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. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. "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. Born July 16, 1941 Died May 24, 2006 (64) Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list Known for Fool's Gold 5.7 But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Desmond Dekker passed away. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning. ", He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". 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.
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