Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. be eclipsed by another Jamaican, reggae artist Bob Marley. Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. I was his manager and his best friend. Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. ", He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly.". An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. Dekker was a native of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, where he was the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). [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. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. [13] 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. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. Mr Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11. "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". 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. He was He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. It Mek 7. . Photo Courtesy:Desmond Dekker Reggae Facebook. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. The obituary was featured in Legacy on May 26, 2006. 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. A . The singer and songwriter, whose 1969 . Chicago Tribune Two offbeat." His mother had passed away from a young age. Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. 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 was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. By 1970 Dekker was living in England, but still worked steadily with Kong. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker 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. 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. international hit. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. Despite declining sales, Dekker remained a popular live performer and continued to tour with The Rumour. This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. Rude. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". [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]. 1 hits in Jamaica. [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. His lyrics drew Thomas. From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. Its title and lyrics refer to the cool imagery of films such as the James Bond series and Ocean's 11, admired by "rudies". [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. 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)". But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. Nincom Poop 8. wider renown. reached No. He was 64. their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. Los Angeles Times of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. Rock it to me, children. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. Intensified 4. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. 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]. [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. 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. [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". and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve teens had found work as a welder. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late He was 64. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. Singer. made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. Jamaica's post-colonial His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the 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. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. 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 died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. 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 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. [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. 1 in Britain and made him a household name Washington Post 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 . [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] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. Along with Bob . New York Times Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. 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. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [3], The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [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. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. 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. 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. Privacy Policy & Terms of use. charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music stopped. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. "The Israelites" reached No. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. "[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. Destitute ("slaving for bread") and unkempt ("Shirt dem a-tear up, trousers a-go"), some Rastafarians were tempted to a life of crime ("I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde"). Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest 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. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. and performed with his backing band, the Four Aces. He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. 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)". 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. lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a 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. He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. "It was an exciting time in Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Tips of My Fingers 5. Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a [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]. 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. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. [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]. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. Dekker was responsible for bringing Bob Marleys talents to the attention of Kong and the two had several successful collaborations. 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. 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. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick 30," Steffens said. 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] 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. I heard a couple arguing about money. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. 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. his music thanks to Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" 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. Los Angeles Times pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. 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. The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. of the world. Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. 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 Specials considered him their musical hero. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the 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. [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. 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. He was a composer, known for Fool's Gold (2008), Idiocracy (2006) and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . 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. [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). On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. 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 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. The music began The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. even the most obscure ones.". A global million sales was reported in June 1969. Photo Highlights: Protoje takes Hope Gardens A Matter of Time Live, The Top 100 Reggae Songs From 1962 2017. He was 64. "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. A few 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. 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. 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. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. career. ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. 15 on the British charts. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States. [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. When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits 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 was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners. Search instead in Creative? By the time I got home, it was complete. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." 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. 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. Survivors include "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, The two had met Musical 1 spot on ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Unflagging performer Desmond Dekker. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United [2] Reggae singer Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64. 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. "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. Many of his Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.[14]. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . journalist Jocelyn Y. Stewart. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. 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 . Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. 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). "It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," he said. Too Much Too Soon 6. 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. "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. "They know all the words to his songs, 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. Early Life a year later. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. Join our newsletter to get the latest articles, news, & videos. Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. 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. 2, p. 11; Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. of the island," wrote 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 "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. "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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded 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"). The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, 1961. Compass Point He suffered a heart attack and He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. But that song was treated as a novelty. Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969.