It Mek (sometimes appearing as "A It Mek" or German language "It Miek") was a 1969 hit song by the Jamaican musicians Desmond Dekker & the Aces.After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. 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]. Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. [11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. Los Angeles Times 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. "[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." a year later. 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. [1] Kong employed the group as backing singers for Dekker and they can be heard on the song "Get Up . A man of many talents, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, a.k.a. Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1942, the star-to-be was orphaned in his teens. of the biblical era. The artist took a permanent residency in the UK in 1969. It was taken from an album of similar re-recordings of his old hits, Black & Dekker. [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. 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. [1] Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street". Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. "Israelites" was Dekker's only real hit in the United A global million sales was reported in June 1969. [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. "The Israelites" reached No. (London), May 27, 2006, p. 70; His manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen the singer and songwriter the night before and he had seemed fine. 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. He had another hit in 1969, "It Mek," and a year later 9 in the United States in 1969. 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. 30," Steffens said. Other hits include "007", "It Mek" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want". Showing Editorial results for desmond dekker. 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. [3], In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. Jamaican music, and Dekker was at its cutting edge," his 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. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions. UK ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six used a sample of the chorus as the outro to "Rum Little Skallywag". He was 64. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Desmond Adolphus Dacres - Born in Saint Andrew Parish Kingston Jamaica 16th July 1941. Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970). Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. "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. [11] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Survivors include The 2016 - current line up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests. [3], Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. tribute, was evident in a sold-out show Dekker played at a Hollywood He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters. You got wildlife and thing like that because it down near the beach. the Jamaican charts. Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. 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. New York Times I heard a couple arguing about money. best-known songs celebrated the "rude boy" culture, the name Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. He was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae singer. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. "The song, an ode to the troubles of the poor, He also collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. Desmond Dekker 5/2006. Musical there. 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. All tracks composed by Desmond Dekker; except where indicated "It Mek" (Dekker, Leslie Kong) - 1:40 "Too Much Too Soon" (Dekker, Leslie Kong) - 2:38 "Coconut Water" - 3:27 "Sweet Music" - 2:29 Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 - 25 May 2006) [1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. offbeat." He suffered a heart attack and 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. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong. years earlier, when both worked as welders in Kingston, and Dekker [2], The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was #1 for one week, selling over 250,000 copies. more rural part of the island, but returned to Kingston and by his late in 1980, and 1972 film 2 in the UK charts. Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager said today. characterised by a fast, metronomic tempo and a strongly accented He died peacefully but it still hurts. Tips of My Fingers 5. "I saw him live dozens of times and he couldn't do a bad show - he was always magnificent.". [3], Dekker continued to release rude boy songs such as "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul", as well as mainstream cultural songs like "It's a Shame", "Wise Man", "Hey Grandma", "Unity", "If It Pays", "Mother's Young Girl", "Sabotage" and "Pretty Africa". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. an ex-wife and a son and daughter, but Dekker was mourned by several [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]. He often sang on the job, which prompted By the time I got home, it was complete. 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. Thomas. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." Problems 9. At the time of his death, he was preparing as the headliner of a world music festival in Prague. [3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. "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. 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. Times The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. Chicago Tribune "Isrealites" lyrics have long been obscure, but, with the wonder of the internet are now easily available and I have. Kong, whose music production skills had been a crucial part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971, affecting the careers of both artists for a short period of time. "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. In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975. 1 in Britain and made him a household name [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". [3], The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". 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 . 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. "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. [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. 63K views 4 years ago A reggae hit in 1969 for Desmond Dekker and the Aces. Dekker soon garnered a wider audience with his songs, which were recorded . 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. I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far.". Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. Desmond Dekker performing at London's Brixton Academy in 1985. Israelites 2. 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. Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. released the song "You Can Get It If You Really Want." 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. An energetic live performer, he was about to start a European summer tour and was booked to play in Prague next week. international hit. 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. [7], "007" was Dekker's first international hit. 1961. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "007 (Shanty Town)" has been called "the most enduring and archetypal" rude boy song. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". He was [2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. , May 27, 2006, p. B17; [9][10] Ethnomusicologist Michael Veal identifies "007 (Shanty Town)" as one of the songs that demonstrated the viability of Jamaican music in England.[11]. 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. Previously divorced, he was survived by a son and daughter. 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. In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. suffering even after independence from Britain. [2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. After being re-released in June 1969, the single reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". generations of fans. 15 on the British charts. Ostensibly a reissue of his 1969 U.K. LP of 1966-1968 recordings, which had . "When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them.". 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. Browse 99 desmond dekker stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [2] In 1980, Dekker released a new recording of the song on UK label Stiff Records, performed in an uptempo Two Tone style. It hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany. 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. Dekker, whose 1969 hit Israelites was the first reggae song to top the UK charts, collapsed at his Surrey home. [10], In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK. He was due to perform at the Respect festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London. The 2006 to 2015 line-up for Dekker's backing band, The Aces, who are still performing tribute concerts, includes: This particular line-up also recorded with Dekker on some of his later studio sessions in the 1990s. The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." Most recently, it featured on the soundtrack of the 2019 film Vivarium. 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. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. . But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. the film introduced Jamaica's vibrant musical culture to the rest 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. The star was divorced with a son and daughter. Desmond Dekker 1. This is one of the pioneers that has passed away - his place is definitely cemented in reggae history.". 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)". This Is Desmond Dekkar Review. [2] A gold record was presented by Ember Records, the distributors of Dekker's recordings.[2]. With the release of Israelites, Dekker became the first Jamaican artist to score a hit in the United States.

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