desmond dekker daughter
hotspot in 2005, "which was almost completely people under His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United By the time I got home, it was complete. Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. 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). 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! charts in the United States, and opened the ears of the world to the music 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 . 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 song is a lament of this condition. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. This was the sense used in the song's lyrics, which metaphorically tell of the problems that happens when someone (such as a lover) goes too far. 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. given to Kingston's tough urban youth who modeled themselves on the [2] The single featured Roland Alphonso's "El Torro" on the B-side.[2]. [2] of London obituary noted. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. generations of fans. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. His mother had passed away from a young age. He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later considered the genre's first genuine star, but his fame would later In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. Desmond Dekker. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. 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. For Once in My Life (Missing Lyrics) 10. Los Angeles Times The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. "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. Rock it to me, children. [3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," he said. [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]. [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. May 25, 2006 - Desmond Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16th 1941 in Saint Andrew Parrish, Kingston, Jamaica. celebrity on the island and throughout the Caribbean. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres, July 16, c. 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica; died tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood It's Not Easy 3. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. 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. 1 spot on Orphaned at an early age, he was sent to live in a Los Angeles Times He was 64. 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 most successful track of his [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. 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. Dekker, who lived in England, co When Kong died in 1971, Dekker's career faltered, and the hits Track listing. Early Life [2] It spent eleven weeks in the UK chart, and by September 1970 had sold over a million copies worldwide. 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. And it just get out of controlIs just a typical riot 'cause I say - Them a loot, them a shoot, them a wail. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. Problems 9. The song's title is Jamaican patois meaning "that's why" or "that's the reason. comparisons between Jamaica's poor and the beleaguered Israelites He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. Singer. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". 1972 film community, and in 1967 his song "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" The two had met Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. Jamaican Ska Star Desmond Dekker Dies - Billboard The initial line-up of The Aces consisted of Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]. "[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. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. [2] The Aces continued to record under their own name (without Dekker) and had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette". [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. [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. An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. His last concert was at Leeds Metropolitan University on 11 May. the Specials considered him their musical hero. 1 hits in Jamaica. He had 10 studio albums, 25 compilation albums, and 47 singles during his career. 1 in Britain and No. ", He added: "People like Desmond Dekker only come along once in a lifetime. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 blue highlight denotes track pick The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. His impact on music, record-company veteran Roger 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). [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). Jamaican singer and musician, Desmond Dekker pictured wearing white trousers and a white cowl neck tunic and sitting on a stool circa 1969. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several From a child he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. 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"). of the world. , May 27, 2006, sec. Too Much Too Soon 6. New York Times more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late [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. Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. 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. , May 30, 2006, p. B7. Mr Williams said Dekker had led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. "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. migrating across the Atlantic along with a growing West Indian expatriate introduced Marley to the record label executives who shaped his own of a heart attack, May 25, 2006, in London, England. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. Several more hits followed, and Dekker became a major 30," Steffens said. [3], Only a single live album was released in the late '80s. The Dekker's trademark falsetto, singing lyrics in a 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], The song also deals with a 'rude boy' who after being released from prison continues to commit crime. jazz elements, combined with such local forms as calypso and mento and The artist died on May 25, 2006, of a heart attack at his home in Thorton Heath in the Croydon Borough of London. Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. 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. And the higher ones wanted to bulldoze the whole thing down and do their own thing and the students said no way. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. Singer. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. the resurgence of ska in England, and top-selling bands like Madness and As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. Dekker became associated with bluebeat, a more uptempo Israelites 2. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]. 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 renowned for his earliest reggae hit internationally 'Israelites.' He died at the age of Sixty Four years. Left to earn a living on his own, he apprenticed as a welder. A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. Other hits include "007", "It Mek" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want". The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning. [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]. 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. of the island," wrote Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. [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". Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. [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. [9] Desmond headlined Jools Holland's 2003 Annual Hootenanny. sold millions of copies, became the first purely Jamaican song to top the "The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. 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 also a hit for Musical Youth in 1983. UK reissue of this two CD collection by the Reggae/Ska legend. pioneer Desmond Dekker dominated Jamaica's pop charts in the 1960s, [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . [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. But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager. Los Angeles Times years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, 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. 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. Later that decade, however, there was a revival of interest in died on May 25, 2006, in London, at the age of 63 or 64. 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]. Together with his backing group The Aces, he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites". A . [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. "independence in 1962 had bestowed a new cultural confidence, The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey. On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. Rude. suffering even after independence from Britain. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. 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. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." View their obituary at Legacy.com Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). 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. best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name their ska-inflected hit "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Roll Call"). 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. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. [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. 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. Free shipping for many products! in 1980, and 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). Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. [3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9). Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. He briefly had an apprenticeship as a tailor before working as a welder. At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. From a very young age he would regularly attend the local church with his grandmother and aunt. He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. career. lament, whose lyrics Dekker had written in his head while walking in a offbeat." Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. the Jamaican charts. Desmond Dekker, 64, Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/arts/music/27dekker.html. [1] The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. Compass Point By 1971 the line-up had changed again, with Barry Howard now rejoined by Carl Hall. I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' teens had found work as a welder. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". 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. It took two years before Kong let Dekker record a song, and when he did, Times The Top 14 Jamaican Recipes Searched for by Canadians. In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far. Musical A global million sales was reported in June 1969. Me said a it mek - mek you pop yu bitta gall. Two 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. "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. Dekker spent his early formative years in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. wider renown. and became one of his country's first recording stars to achieve 1 in Britain and made him a household name "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. 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. Desmond Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. Desmond Dekker discography and songs: Music profile for Desmond Dekker, born 16 July 1941. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. [2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. I dig you out and you're cool, girl. career, "Israelites," was released in December of 1968 and 2 in the UK charts. He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. Intensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970. [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. He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe . "The Israelites" reached No. The comeback failed to save him from bankruptcy in 1984, Nincom Poop 8. "Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's #14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. 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)". He was "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. Search instead in Creative? It was his workmates who first noted his vocal talents, as the youngster sang around the workshop. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified.". In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. born in 1941 or 1942. 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. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. made it into the Top Ten on the U.S. singles chart the following year. Their song "Working on it Night and Day", entered the pop charts in 1973. It Mek 7. I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far.". 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). Dekker still performed regularly, and gave what would be his final concert Desmond Dekker passed away. 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. Jamaica's post-colonial Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded His fans included the Beatles, who namechecked him in the lyrics to 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. gangsters they saw in Hollywood films. Albums include The Harder They Come, The Harder They Come, and Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music. 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. Genres: Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae. 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 . [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. of musicians and producers Dekker cut two more albums, 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. years later the track became the signature song for the groundbreaking 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. States, but it reached No. 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. Photograph: PA. What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly good. reached No. He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. [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.