Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. He often sang on the job, which prompted With a younger generation The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. But his success started to wane by the end of the 70s and early 80s and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. It's Not Easy 3. 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. 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]. 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. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. career. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. 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. He died peacefully but it still hurts. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). 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. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. Washington Post 1 hits in Jamaica. [3], The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". "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. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. 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. [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. Compass Point 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. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. even the most obscure ones.". "He died peacefully but it still hurts. Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. 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. Survivors include He was 64. Singer. Problems 9. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". Thomas. Intensified 4. He was 64. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. A few [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. his music thanks to The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . I heard a couple arguing about money. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. [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. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. By the time I got home, it was complete. version of ska. Los Angeles Times 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. 1 spot on Search instead in Creative? [3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. The movie's hero, played by Jimmy Cliff, sang it this time, and The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. Black and Dekker He was also a songwriter and a musician as well. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later A global million sales was reported in June 1969. [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]. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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)". 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. From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. I was his manager and his best friend. 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 was 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. , May 27, 2006, sec. An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and 1 in Britain and No. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. 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. His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later The most successful track of his From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. Jamaica's post-colonial [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far.". park one day, was a homage to Jamaica's underclass, who were still 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. Israelites 2. Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major 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. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. 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. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. 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". Anyone can read what you share. their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." international hit. It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. 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]. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under [13] teens had found work as a welder. ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. Desmond Dekker. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. born in 1941 or 1942. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. [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]. Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. the Jamaican charts. tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. Singer. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". 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. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. stopped. 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). there. Desmond Dekker was the first to have hit records outside of Jamaica and his influence on young white British teenagers was pivotal to his success in the 1960s. 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. of the island," wrote [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. 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. 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. [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. [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. Many of his Privacy Policy & Terms of use. [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. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. Roll Call"). "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. community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" 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][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. From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. He lived for his music and his children. Too Much Too Soon 6. "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. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' 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. His lyrics drew 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. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late 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. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. Photograph: PA. 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. "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. The song is a lament of this condition. In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. A . Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. It Mek 7. Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. 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 . Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. 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 star was divorced with a son and daughter. Los Angeles Times Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his "[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. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). 2 in the UK charts. Steffens told Stewart in the 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. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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 artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. I told you once and I told you twice. [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. But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert 1961. Kong, whose music production skills had been a crucial part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971, affecting the careers of both artists for a short period of time. the Specials considered him their musical hero. 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)". Los Angeles Times "They know all the words to his songs, Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. offbeat." an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. of the world. He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over 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. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, suffering even after independence from Britain. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. 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. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. 1 in Jamaica. generations of fans. [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". "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. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017.