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. 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. 1 in Britain and made him a household name "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. 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. Times Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. Photograph: PA. tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood 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 often sang on the job, which prompted The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. Desmond Dekker, voice of Jamaica's slums, dies at 64 But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. He suffered a heart attack and The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. Musical 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - AllMusic Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. [2] From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon in Jamaica and also became a favourite dance track for the young working-class men and women of the United Kingdom's mod scene. 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. 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. 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]. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. He was 64. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. 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. his music thanks to version of ska. 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 . Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. even the most obscure ones.". In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. He was [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. "They know all the words to his songs, 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. 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. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. Dekker recorded the song again for his 1980 album Black and Dekker. In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. [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". For Once in My Life (Missing Lyrics) 10. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and His mother had passed away from a young age. Desmond Dekker - Israelites Lyrics | Genius Lyrics The Harder They Come 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 Jamaican charts. 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. His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to A . expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." 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. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, I heard a couple arguing about money. 1 in Britain and No. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the Desmond Dekker 1. 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. [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. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. States, but it reached No. Desmond Dekker. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. born in 1941 or 1942. "Israelites" w/Lyrics- Desmond Dekker and the Aces - YouTube He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. "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. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. Survivors include 9 in the United States in 1969. reached No. But that song was treated as a novelty. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". suffering even after independence from Britain. 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". New York Times Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo 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 wrote the song after watching news coverage of a student demonstration against government plans to build an industrial complex on land close to the beach, which descended into violence. 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. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. of the biblical era. By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. Desmond Dekker - Cultural Jamaican Musical Talisman - uDiscover Music It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. 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). He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music 1972 film Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. Too Much Too Soon 6. Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. Desmond Dekker - This Is Desmond Dekkar Album Reviews, Songs & More This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. 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. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. 1961. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. Desmond Dekker - IMDb Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." 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). Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. [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. I was his manager and his best friend. Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. View their obituary at Legacy.com [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". there. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. the Specials considered him their musical hero. Desmond Dekker Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays By [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". 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. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning. 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"). It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. 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. "[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. 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. , May 27, 2006, sec. Desmond Dekker on Apple Music Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. 1 hits in Jamaica. of the island," wrote Compass Point Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. a year later. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and He was 64. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". 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 Top 10 Desmond Dekker Songs - Jamaicans.com 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. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented 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 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 He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. 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. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. "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. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. 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. Early Life 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. [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, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. 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). community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Singer. Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. Desmond Dekker - YouTube Music The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, 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. 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]. But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Rock it to me, children. Track listing. He was 64. 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)". He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. 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. ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. Desmond Dekker - It Mek Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits Desmond Dekker Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic He died peacefully but it still hurts. 2, p. 11; 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for TROJAN DUB MASSIVE CHAPTER TWO 2 CD REGGAE SKA ROOTS DESMOND DECKER 40th lp 45 at the best online prices at eBay! May 25, 2006 - Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16th 1941 in Saint Andrew Parrish, Kingston, Jamaica. Desmond Dekker Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images [5] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town). 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. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. "007 (song)" redirects here. 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). Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. 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. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. Thomas. [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". Desmond Dekker | Reggae | The Guardian Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. "The Israelites" reached No. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his 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. Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian 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. He lived for his music and his children. in 1980, and best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. Many of his stopped. Desmond Dekker - Rate Your Music Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) [3], The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". The Aces (Jamaican group) - Wikipedia But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". Along with Bob . Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Israelites 2. "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. It Mek 7. Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. Intensified - Wikipedia DEKKER,DESMOND - 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - Amazon.com Music This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. Free shipping for many products! Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. His lyrics drew 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 . Dekker, who lived in England, co 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". [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. Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. Washington Post 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. "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. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died