He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later 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. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve Los Angeles Times And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. Free shipping for many products! [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. With a younger generation The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941. Steffens told Stewart in the The star was divorced with a son and daughter. Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. [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. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. Search instead in Creative? Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest 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. "The Israelites" reached No. 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. 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. introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own Too Much Too Soon 6. [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. He was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer. 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. Track listing. 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. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. 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 . Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Washington Post His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. 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. 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. I was his manager and his best friend. "007 (song)" redirects here. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. 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. ", 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. The music began 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. Also founder & MD of popular Reggae and Ska Tribute/backing band, Paul Abraham Guitarist and backing vocals, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 17:21. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. 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. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. The Harder They Come In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. 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 collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). 2, p. 11; characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented [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]. [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]. [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. I told you once and I told you twice. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . Despite declining sales, Dekker remained a popular live performer and continued to tour with The Rumour. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. 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. A few 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). lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. 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. expressed in the growth of ska, a mix of imported rhythm and blues and Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. 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. [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. 1 in Britain and No. The 7 Breakfast Dishes Every Jamaican Should Know How Jamaican Men Say Thank You to another Jamaican How Jamaicans Greet You When They Have Not Seen You 20 English Words That Sound Better In Jamaican Patois. teens had found work as a welder. 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"). 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 . Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late Compass Point [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. 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. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. Mark Lamarr, presenter of BBC Radio 2's Reggae Show, said: "He probably was the first reggae superstar to have hits outside Jamaica in the US and UK. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. He often sang on the job, which prompted Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. of the island," wrote On the 22 August 1970 edition of American top 40, Casey Kasem claimed that Dekker had more than 40 #1 records in Jamaica. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the "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. [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. It Mek 7. [2] Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. 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. Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United Singer. in Leeds just two weeks before his death. [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. which Dekker admitted was the result of a swindle by his former manager. The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. 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. 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. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits Together with his backing group The Aces, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". 2 in the UK charts. [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. Photograph: PA. The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. [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". [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. producers turned him down before Leslie Kong signed Dekker to his label in When Maxell used Israelites in a TV commercial, it propelled Dekker and his music back into the spotlight. career. 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. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. 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. reached No. Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. [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. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". 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. international hit. It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, [3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, "Honour Thy Father and Mother" was released in Britain in 1964 on Chris Blackwell's Island label, which would later release Bob Marley's albums. [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. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. 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. What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly good. 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. The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. [4] "007 (Shanty Town)" was a top 15 hit in the UK and his UK concerts were attended by a large following of mods wherever he played. 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. [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. Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded Many of his "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. 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. Along with Bob . "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. 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! I dig you out and you're cool, girl. be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist 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). 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. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. wider renown. Los Angeles Times In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. 1969. 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. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and 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]. "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. , May 27, 2006, sec. He was 64. New York Times Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9).