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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. With a younger generation By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. 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. "It was an exciting time in Musical 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. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. of the biblical era. more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. He was [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. 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. [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]. Los Angeles Times "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. 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. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name 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. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. his co-workers to dare him into auditioning for a record label. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. suffering even after independence from Britain. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. Singer. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. [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. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. Together with his backing group The Aces, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies The star was divorced with a son and daughter. 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. 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. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. 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 . After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. A global million sales was reported in June 1969. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and He was renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. His mother had passed away from a young age. He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. [2] [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. 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. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. Desmond Dekker Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays By Reggae legend, Dekker, dies - The New York Times The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, 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. Israelites 2. Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. 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. But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". "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. His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to He was 64. His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger By the time I got home, it was complete. in Leeds just two weeks before his death. "Israelites" w/Lyrics- Desmond Dekker and the Aces - YouTube "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. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Desmond Dekker 5/2006. 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"). [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". "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) - YouTube 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] 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 Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. The Harder They Come He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, Desmond Dekker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. Desmond Dekker, King of Ska - Rock and Roll Paradise journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. . Desmond Dekker. Chicago Tribune sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the 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. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. [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. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. Desmond Dekker, Desmond Dekker & the Aces - Intensified - AllMusic years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. 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]. Times DEKKER,DESMOND - 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - Amazon.com Music Desmond Dekker - YouTube Music Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. reached No. Desmond Dekker Obituary (2006) - Legacy I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' 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"). On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. Two New York Times [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. 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. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker (1980), which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker's backing band and Akrylykz (featuring Roland Gift, later of Fine Young Cannibals). Times Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. A . lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. 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)". 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. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. 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. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. 1 in Britain and made him a household name migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate "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. Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (Official Lyrics Video) 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. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. Rock it to me, children. Despite declining sales, Dekker remained a popular live performer and continued to tour with The Rumour. [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] King of Kings consists of songs by Dekker's musical heroes including Byron Lee; Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Cliff, and his friend and fellow Kong label artist, Derrick Morgan. View their obituary at Legacy.com Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Along with Bob . Desmond Dekker - Israelites Lyrics | Genius Lyrics 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. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. [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. his music thanks to Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. generations of fans. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. The two had met comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. 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. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Obituary: Desmond Dekker , May 27, 2006, p. A11; Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was 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. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter.