Jamaica's post-colonial It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. [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. [3] In 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Come soundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)". In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. By the time I got home, it was complete. The music began Incudes 'Israelites', '007 (Shanty Town)', 'It Miek', 'You Can Get It If You Really Want' and 'Sing a Litte Song'. "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. [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". Los Angeles Times community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. 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. Stock Photos from Photos.com, iStockPhotos.com, 123rf. Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. 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. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. Photograph: PA. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. He moved to the UK in the 70s and recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. Reggae singer Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 64. "The Israelites" reached No. "Honour Your Father and Mother" reached the No. "Israelites" w/Lyrics- Desmond Dekker and the Aces - YouTube Desmond Dekker Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays By 007 (Shanty Town) - Wikipedia Jamaican patois, helped make his 1969 song "Israelites" an After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. [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. Early Life Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. 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". The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. He collaborated with the Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Dekker and the Specials. [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. 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. hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under His first contract was with Leslie Kongs Beverleys label. "They know all the words to his songs, Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. The Aces, originally known as The Four Aces, were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. 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. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. "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. there. Desmond Dekker - IMDb Desmond Dekker - Israelites (Official Music Video) - YouTube 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]. 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. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. A string of hits followed with "Reggae Motion", "Take a Look", "Oh I Miss You", "Call Me Number One", "Be My Baby", and "Sad Sad Song". Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at. 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. charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. 30," Steffens said. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. 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. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. He died on 24 May 2006 in Thornton Heath, London, England, UK. My Father lived with his Grandmother along with his Father in Kingston. 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. The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. Times 007: The Best of Desmond Dekker - AllMusic 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. 1 spot on He was 64. Join our newsletter to get the latest articles, news, & videos. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. 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. in Leeds just two weeks before his death. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. Home | DESMOND DEKKER I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "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. Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. Reggae pioneer Desmond Dekker dies, aged 64 - the Guardian Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. Desmond Dekker. 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). Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. 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. 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). 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. wider renown. His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity. Problems 9. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. 9 in the United States in 1969. 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 . The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. 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. It was also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced by Robert Palmer. The rhythm had been featured by Anthony B in 2008 on The Pow Pow Trilogy, ("Time For The Love"). It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. "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. His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. [5] Despite its cautionary sentiment, it cemented Dekker's popularity among rude boys in Jamaica,[2][6] in contrast to Dekker's earlier music, which espoused traditional morals such as parental respect and the importance of education. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. "[3] According to the liner notes for the Dekker compilation album Rockin' Steady The Best of Desmond Dekker the phrase was also used as a schoolyard taunt roughly meaning "that's what you get." [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. "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. Desmond Dekker | Reggae | The Guardian A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. 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)". Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. 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. ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. I was his manager and his best friend. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick View their obituary at Legacy.com Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. 2, p. 11; Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Black and Dekker The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. Intensified 4. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. Desmond Dekker - This Is Desmond Dekkar Album Reviews, Songs & More [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). Survivors include This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". 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").