The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. He was 64. The 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. He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. 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 . [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. [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. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Chicago Tribune In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. even the most obscure ones.". He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. "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. [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. in 1980, and 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. New York Times "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. of the island," wrote wider renown. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. 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". But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. 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. career. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United 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. 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.After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. 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)". But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and Times It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. A . Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. offbeat." 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"). suffering even after independence from Britain. Desmond Dekker. best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. "[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. "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. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. [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]. Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. Musical A global million sales was reported in June 1969. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. Two "007 (song)" redirects here. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. the Specials considered him their musical hero. 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. 1 spot on "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, [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). Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. 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. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. 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". 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. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. 1 in Britain and made him a household name [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. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. [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". He often sang on the job, which prompted [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. 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). a year later. 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. Too Much Too Soon 6. of London obituary noted. [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". The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died 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. 2 in the UK charts. and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. international hit. Dekker's last gig was in Leeds on 11 May (Photo: egigs.co.uk), Dekker's hits included Israelites, It Mek and 007 (Shanty Town), The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites, BBC Radio 2's Mark Lamarr pays tribute to Desmond Dekker. Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an He died peacefully but it still hurts. "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. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in 1 hits in Jamaica. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. . He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. A few Steffens told Stewart in the His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker Rock it to me, children. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. 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. The music began Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. 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. For Once in My Life (Missing Lyrics) 10. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. generations of fans. [3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. 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. 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. Desmond Dekker passed away. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. By the time I got home, it was complete. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). [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". Los Angeles Times 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. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. Together with his backing group The Aces, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". [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. He suffered a heart attack and Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. Along with Bob . Nincom Poop 8. 1969. Track listing. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. [2] considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a 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. [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. [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. Rude. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented [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]. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. Early Life Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later Times expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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. By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. "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. 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.