Desmond Dekker
Encyclopedia
Desmond Dekker was a Jamaica
n ska
, rocksteady
and reggae
singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing group, The Aces
(consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the first international Jamaica
n hits with "Israelites
". Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967) and "It Miek
" (1969). Before the ascent of Bob Marley
, Dekker was one of the most popular musicians within Jamaica, and one of its best-known musicians outside it.
, where he attended the Alpha Boys' School. After his mother took ill and died, his father moved him to St. Mary, and then to St. Thomas, where he apprenticed as a tailor before returning to Kingston and taking a job as a welder
, singing around his workplace while his co-workers encouraged him. In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd
(Studio One) and Duke Reid
(Treasure Isle). Neither was impressed by his talents, and the young man moved on to Leslie Kong
's Beverley's
record label
, where he auditioned before Derrick Morgan
, then the label's biggest star
.
). Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry who became his backing band, The Four Aces.
Dekker and the Howards recorded a number of hits including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". Until 1967 Dekker's songs were polite and conveyed respectable, mainstream messages. In that year, however, he appeared on Derrick Morgan
's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin a trend of popular songs glamorizing the violent rude boy
culture. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular tunes, though he did introduce lyrics that resonated with the rude boys starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon and he also became an established hero in the United Kingdom's mod scene. "007 (Shanty Town)" was a Top 15 hit in the UK
, and Dekker toured that country with a posse of mods following him.
Dekker continued with songs in the same vein such as "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul", as well as continuing with his previous themes of religion and morality in songs like "It's a Shame", "Wise Man", "Hey Grandma", "Unity", "If It Pays", "Mother's Young Girl" and "Sabotage". His "Pretty Africa" is a long-standing favourite among his fans and may be the earliest popular song promoting repatriation
. Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).
In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites
" was released, eventually topping the UK Singles Chart
and peaking in the Top Ten of the US
Billboard Hot 100
. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with a form and style that was purely Jamaican, though he never repeated the feat. That same year saw the release of "Beautiful and Dangerous", "Writing on the Wall", "Music Like Dirt" (which won the Festival Song Contest), "Bongo Girl" and "Shing a Ling". Also in 1968, he was referenced by The Beatles
in the ska-influenced, Paul McCartney
penned song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
" (from The White Album) starting with the lyric: - "Desmond has a barrow in the market-place".
1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which first had only lukewarm success but was re-recorded and then became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. Dekker also released "Problems" and "Pickney Gal", both of which were popular in Jamaica but had only limited success elsewhere.
. Dekker had not wanted to record it but was persuaded by Leslie Kong. Dekker's version uses the same instrumental
backing track as Cliff's original. Kong, whose production had been a crucial part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971, and so both of his protegés lost direction for a period before returning to music.
Dekker continued recording, but with only limited success until he began working with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. His first hit with the pair was 1975's UK top 20 hit "Sing a Little Song". After the UK top ten re-charting of "Israelites" in 1975, Dekker did not chart in the UK again for some time. Dekker also found only a limited audience in Jamaica.
At the end of the 1970s, Dekker signed with Stiff Records
, a punk
label linked with the 2 Tone
movement, a fusion of punk and ska. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker
's backing band and the Akrylykz
(featuring Roland Gift
, later of the Fine Young Cannibals
). "Israelites" became the first hit and a Top Ten Belgian
hit and was followed by "Please Don't Bend", Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Book of Rules". His next album was Compass Point
, produced by Robert Palmer. Though it did not sell well, Dekker was still a popular live performer and toured with The Rumour.
movement died out, he saw his fortunes dwindle and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Only a single live album was released in the late 80s, but a new version of "Israelites" reawakened public interest in 1990, following its use in a Maxell
advertisement. He re-recorded some old singles, and worked with The Specials
for 1992's King of Ska, which used hits from Dekker's musical heroes, including Derrick Morgan. He also collaborated on a remix
version of "Israelites" with reggae artist
Apache Indian
.
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. He was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague
. Dekker was divorced, and is survived by his son and daughter.
This particular line-up also recorded with Dekker on some of his later studio sessions in the 1990s.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, rocksteady
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton...
and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing group, The Aces
The Aces (Jamaican group)
The Aces, initially known as The Four Aces were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker, but who also recorded without him.-History:...
(consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the first international Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n hits with "Israelites
Israelites (song)
"Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & The Aces. Although few could understand all the lyrics, the single was the first UK reggae number one and the first to reach the US top ten...
". Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967) and "It Miek
It Miek
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...
" (1969). Before the ascent of Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, Dekker was one of the most popular musicians within Jamaica, and one of its best-known musicians outside it.
Early life
He was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in St. Andrew, Jamaica and grew up in KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, where he attended the Alpha Boys' School. After his mother took ill and died, his father moved him to St. Mary, and then to St. Thomas, where he apprenticed as a tailor before returning to Kingston and taking a job as a welder
Welder
A welder is a tradesman who specializes in welding materials together. The materials to be joined can be metals or varieties of plastic or polymer...
, singing around his workplace while his co-workers encouraged him. In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
(Studio One) and Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
(Treasure Isle). Neither was impressed by his talents, and the young man moved on to Leslie Kong
Leslie Kong
Leslie Kong was a Chinese Jamaican record producer.-Career:Leslie and his two older brothers Cecil and Lloyd ran a restaurant, ice cream parlour and record shop called Beverley's in Orange Street, Kingston...
's Beverley's
Beverley's
Beverley's was a Jamaican record label owned by the Chinese Jamaican record producer Leslie Kong. Beverley's was essential to the development of Ska and Rocksteady into Reggae...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, where he auditioned before Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan is a musical artist popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff in the rhythm and blues and ska genres, and he also performed rocksteady and skinhead reggae.-Biography:In 1957 Morgan entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent...
, then the label's biggest star
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
.
Career
With Morgan's support, Dekker was signed but did not record until 1963 because Kong wanted to wait for the perfect song, which "Honour Your Mother and Father" was felt to be. "Honour Your Mother and Father" was a hit and was followed by "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning", and at this time Desmond Dacres became Desmond Dekker. His fourth hit made him into one of the island's biggest stars. It was "King of Ska", a rowdy and jubilant song on which Dekker was backed by The Cherrypies (also known as The MaytalsToots & the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music...
). Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry who became his backing band, The Four Aces.
Dekker and the Howards recorded a number of hits including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". Until 1967 Dekker's songs were polite and conveyed respectable, mainstream messages. In that year, however, he appeared on Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan
Derrick Morgan is a musical artist popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff in the rhythm and blues and ska genres, and he also performed rocksteady and skinhead reggae.-Biography:In 1957 Morgan entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent...
's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin a trend of popular songs glamorizing the violent rude boy
Rude boy
Rude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy are common terms used in Jamaica. In the 1960s it was also used for juvenile delinquents and criminals in Jamaica, and has since been used in other contexts...
culture. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular tunes, though he did introduce lyrics that resonated with the rude boys starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon and he also became an established hero in the United Kingdom's mod scene. "007 (Shanty Town)" was a Top 15 hit in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and Dekker toured that country with a posse of mods following him.
Dekker continued with songs in the same vein such as "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul", as well as continuing with his previous themes of religion and morality in songs like "It's a Shame", "Wise Man", "Hey Grandma", "Unity", "If It Pays", "Mother's Young Girl" and "Sabotage". His "Pretty Africa" is a long-standing favourite among his fans and may be the earliest popular song promoting repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
. Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).
In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites
Israelites (song)
"Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & The Aces. Although few could understand all the lyrics, the single was the first UK reggae number one and the first to reach the US top ten...
" was released, eventually topping the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and peaking in the Top Ten of the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with a form and style that was purely Jamaican, though he never repeated the feat. That same year saw the release of "Beautiful and Dangerous", "Writing on the Wall", "Music Like Dirt" (which won the Festival Song Contest), "Bongo Girl" and "Shing a Ling". Also in 1968, he was referenced by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
in the ska-influenced, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
penned song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney, but written by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on their 1968 album The Beatles...
" (from The White Album) starting with the lyric: - "Desmond has a barrow in the market-place".
1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which first had only lukewarm success but was re-recorded and then became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. Dekker also released "Problems" and "Pickney Gal", both of which were popular in Jamaica but had only limited success elsewhere.
1970s
In the 1970s Dekker spent most of his time touring and moved to the UK, where he continued to record. Among his best known releases of this period was "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy CliffJimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
. Dekker had not wanted to record it but was persuaded by Leslie Kong. Dekker's version uses the same instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
backing track as Cliff's original. Kong, whose production had been a crucial part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971, and so both of his protegés lost direction for a period before returning to music.
Dekker continued recording, but with only limited success until he began working with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. His first hit with the pair was 1975's UK top 20 hit "Sing a Little Song". After the UK top ten re-charting of "Israelites" in 1975, Dekker did not chart in the UK again for some time. Dekker also found only a limited audience in Jamaica.
At the end of the 1970s, Dekker signed with Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
, a punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
label linked with the 2 Tone
2 Tone
2 Tone is a music genre created in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae, and New Wave. It was called 2 Tone because most of the bands were signed to 2 Tone Records at some point. Other labels associated with the 2 Tone sound were Stiff...
movement, a fusion of punk and ska. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker
Graham Parker
Graham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
's backing band and the Akrylykz
Akrylykz
The Akrylykz,originally Akrylyk Vyktymz, was a ska band formed by members of Hull school of Art Kingston upon Hull, that featured Roland Gift originally as a tenor saxophonist, but his role later expanded to frontman and lead singer...
(featuring Roland Gift
Roland Gift
Roland Lee Gift is a British singer and actor. He was the lead singer of the band Fine Young Cannibals.-Biography:...
, later of the Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals were a British band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox , and singer Roland Gift...
). "Israelites" became the first hit and a Top Ten Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
hit and was followed by "Please Don't Bend", Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Book of Rules". His next album was Compass Point
Compass Point
Compass Point may refer to:* Compass point, a direction on a traditional compass* Compass Point * Compass Point Shopping Centre, a shopping mall in Singapore* Compass Point Studios, a studio in Nassau, Bahamas...
, produced by Robert Palmer. Though it did not sell well, Dekker was still a popular live performer and toured with The Rumour.
1980s and later
In the early 1980s, as the 2 Tone2 Tone
2 Tone is a music genre created in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae, and New Wave. It was called 2 Tone because most of the bands were signed to 2 Tone Records at some point. Other labels associated with the 2 Tone sound were Stiff...
movement died out, he saw his fortunes dwindle and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Only a single live album was released in the late 80s, but a new version of "Israelites" reawakened public interest in 1990, following its use in a Maxell
Maxell
, commonly known as Maxell, is a Japanese company which manufactures consumer electronics. The company's notable products are batteries -- the company's name is a contraction of "maximum capacity dry cell" -- and recording media, including audio cassettes and blank VHS tapes, and recordable optical...
advertisement. He re-recorded some old singles, and worked with The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
for 1992's King of Ska, which used hits from Dekker's musical heroes, including Derrick Morgan. He also collaborated on a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
version of "Israelites" with reggae artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Apache Indian
Apache Indian (musician)
Apache Indian is the stage name of the reggae DJ Steven Kapur .-Biography and career:Born into a family of Indian origins, Kapur was born and grew up in Handsworth, West Midlands, a racially mixed area with large Black and Asian communities, home of reggae bands such as Steel Pulse, and by the...
.
Dekker died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south-southeast of Charing Cross.-Geography:...
in the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, England, aged 64. He was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Dekker was divorced, and is survived by his son and daughter.
Backing band
The Aces - The current line up for Dekker's backing band, who are still performing tribute concerts includes:- Delroy Williams - Backing Vocals / M.C.
- Gordon MulrainGordon Mulrain (musician)-Music career:Gordon Mulrain has been a performing musician since 12 years of age, in the studio and on the stage. He joined UK reggae outfit Jah Warriors as bass player and toured with Lee Perry, Mikey Dread and Aswad...
- Bass guitarist and session musicianSession musicianSession musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
. Mulrain is also known as music producer 'Innerheart' and co-founder of British record labelRecord labelIn the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Ambiel MusicAmbiel MusicAmbiel Music is a British independent record label.Founded in April 2009, Ambiel Music cater for up and coming artists and are a strong supporter of Independent music from several different genres and styles...
. - Aubrey Mulrain - Keyboard player and session musician.
- Steve Roberts - Guitarist and session musician, also a member of the British band Dubzone.
- Leroy Green - Drums and session musician.
- Stan Samuel - Guitarist and session musician
- Charles Nelson - Keyboard player and session musician.
This particular line-up also recorded with Dekker on some of his later studio sessions in the 1990s.
Albums
- 007 Shanty Town (1967) Doctor Bird (Desmond Dekker & the Aces)
- Action!Action! (Desmond Dekker album)Action! is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1968.-Track listing:All songs written by Desmond Dekker.#"Mother Pepper" – 2:21#"Don't Blame Me" – 2:24#"You've Got Your Troubles" – 3:13#"Personal Possession" – 2:55...
(1968) (Desmond Dekker & the Aces) - This Is Desmond DekkarThis Is Desmond DekkarThis Is Desmond Dekkar is an album by Desmond Dekker released in 1969.-Track listing:All songs written by Desmond Dekker.#"007 "#"Sabotage"#"Shing a Ling"#"Hey Grandma"#"Beautiful and Dangerous"#"Wise Man"#"Music Like Dirt"...
(1969) - Trojan RecordsTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
(UK #27) - Israelites (1969) Doctor Bird
- IntensifiedIntensifiedIntensified is an album by Desmond Dekker & the Aces released in 1970.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Desmond Dekker; except where indicated#"It Mek" - 1:40#"Too Much Too Soon" - 2:38...
(1970) - Lagoon - You Can Get It If You Really Want (1970) - Trojan
- Black And Dekker (1980) StiffStiff RecordsStiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
- Compass Point (1981) Stiff
- King of Ska with The SpecialsThe SpecialsThe Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
(1993) - Trojan Records - Halfway to Paradise, Seventeen wonderful new recordings from the King of Ska(1999) - Trojan
Compilation albums
- Double Dekker (1973) Trojan
- Dekker's Sweet 16 Hits (1979) Trojan
- The Original Reggae Hitsound (1985) Trojan
- 20 Golden Pieces of Desmond Dekker (1987) Bulldog
- The Official Live and Rare (1987) Trojan
- Greatest Hits (1988) Streetlife
- The Best of & The Rest of (1990) Action Replay
- Music Like Dirt (1992) Trojan
- Rockin' Steady - The Best of Desmond Dekker (1992) Rhino
- Crucial Cuts (1993) Music Club
- Israelites (1994) Laserlight
- Action (1995) Lagoon
- Voice of Ska (1995) Emporio
- Moving On (1996) Trojan
- The Israelites (1996) Marble Arch
- First Time for a Long Time (1997) Trojan
- Desmond Dekker Archive (1997) Rialto
- The Writing on the Wall (1998) Trojan
- Israelites (1999) Castle Pie
- Israelites: The Best Of Desmond Dekker (1963–1971) - Trojan (1999)
- Desmond Dekker (2000) Snapper
- The Very Best Of (2000) Jet Set
- This Is Desmond Dekker (Bonus Tracks) - Trojan (2006)
Early solo singles
- "Honour Your Mother and Father" (1963) IslandIsland RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
(as Desmond Dekker & Beverley's Allstars) - "Parents" (1964) Island
- "King of Ska" (1964) Island (as Desmond Dekkar and his Cherry Pies)
- "Dracula" (1964) Black Swan (as Desmond Dekkar)
Desmond Dekker & the Four Aces
- "Generosity" (1965) Island
- "Get Up Adina" (1965) Island
- "This Woman" (1965) Island
- "Mount Zion" (1965) Island
Desmond Dekker & the Aces
- "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967) - Doctor Bird
- "Wise Man" (1967) Pyramid
- "007 Shanty Town" (1967) Pyramid
- "It's a Shame" (1967) Pyramid
- "Rudy Got Soul" (1967) Pyramid
- "Rude Boy Train" (1967) Pyramid
- "Mother's Young Gal" (1967) Pyramid
- "Unity" (1967) Pyramid
- "Sabotage" (1967) Pyramid
- "It Pays" (1967) Pyramid
- "Beautiful and Dangerous" (1967) Pyramid
- "Bongo Gal" (1967) Pyramid
- "To Sir, With Love" (1967) Pyramid
- "Mother Pepper" (1967) Pyramid
- "Hey Grandma" (1967) Pyramid
- "Music Like Dirt (Intensified)" (1967) Pyramid
- "It Miek" (1968) Pyramid
- "IsraelitesIsraelites (song)"Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & The Aces. Although few could understand all the lyrics, the single was the first UK reggae number one and the first to reach the US top ten...
" (1968) - Pyramid (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#1, U.S.Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#9) - "Christmas Day" (1968) Pyramid
- "It MiekIt MiekIt 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...
" (1969) - Pyramid (UK #7) - "Pickney Gal" (1969) - Pyramid (UK #42)
Later solo singles
- "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970) - Trojan
- "The Song We Used to Sing" (1970) Trojan
- "Licking Stick" (1971) Trojan
- "It Gotta Be So" (1972) Trojan
- "Beware" (1972) Rhino
- "Sing a Little Song" (1973) Rhino
- "Everybody Join Hands" (1973) Rhino
- "Busted Lad" (1974) Rhino
- "Israelites (re-recording)" (1975) - Cactus (UK #10)
- "Sing A Little Song" (1975) - Cactus (UK #16)
- "Roots Rock" (1977) Feelgood
- "Israelites (new mix)" (1980) Stiff
- "Please Don't Bend" (1980) Stiff
- "Many Rivers to Cross" (1980) Stiff
- "We Can and Shall" (1981) Stiff
- "Book of Rules" (1982) Stiff
- "Hot City" (1983) Stiff
- "Jamaica Ska" (1993) Trojan
External links
- Official website
- Desmond Dekker in Comanche Park video Sony Records (1994)
- Jamaica Observer reports death, retrieved May 26, 2006.
- Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies (BBC News)
- Rockin' Steady: The Best Of Desmond Dekker (Rhino 1992)
- "Desmond Dekker Came First" - tribute and Q&A with Delroy Williams, Complicated Fun, June 2, 2006
- 1999 interview
- London Guardian obituary