Desmond Dekker
Dekker performing in San Francisco, California, on 22 April 2005
Background information
Birth name	Desmond Adolphus Dacres
Born	(1941-07-16)16 July 1941 Saint Andrew Parish, Colony of Jamaica
Died	25 May 2006(2006-05-25) (aged 64) London, England
Genres	Ska rocksteady reggae
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1963–2006
Labels	Island Rhino Pyramid Trojan Cactus Secret Records Burning Sounds Stiff
Website	desmonddekker.com

Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 – 25 May 2006)^[1] was a Jamaican 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 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 Want" (1970).

Early life

Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. Thomas.^[2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music.^[3]

In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract.^[3]

Career

Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. 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. 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. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning". It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. 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. Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry Howard, as his permanent backing vocalists to perform with him under the name Desmond Dekker and the Aces.^[3]

The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". 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"). 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. 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)". 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.^[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.^[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".^[5] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).^[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. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. 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".^[3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK.^[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]

Personal

In 1969 Dekker took permanent residency in the UK.^[11] In 1984 he was declared bankrupt.^[12][13]

Dekker died of a heart attack on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, England, aged 64^[3] and was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery. He was preparing to headline The World Music Festival in Prague. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.^[14]

Tribute band

The 2006 to 2015 line-up for Dekker's backing band, The Aces, who are still performing tribute concerts, includes:

• Delroy Williams – backing vocals/M.C.
• Gordon Mulrain – bass guitarist and session musician (Mulrain, also known as "Innerheart", is co-founder of the British record label Ambiel Music)
• 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.

The 2016 to present line-up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band the Aces featuring Delroy Williams & Guests:

• Delroy Williams – vocals (also featuring guests Winston 'Mr Fix It' Francis and Glenroy Oakley from Greyhound 'Black & White')
• Gordon Mulrain – bass guitarist and session musician
• Aubrey Mulrain – keyboard player and session musician
• Learoy Green – drums, backing vocals and session musician
• Bryan Campbell – keyboard player and session musician
• Steve Baker – guitarist, backing vocals, peripatetic guitar teacher and session guitarist. Also founder and MD of reggae and ska tribute/backing band Zeb Rootz
• Paul Abraham – guitarist and backing vocals

Discography

References

External links

• Desmond Dekker discography at Discogs
• Official website
• Desmond Dekker in Comanche Park video Sony Records (1994) on YouTube
• "Desmond Dekker Came First" – tribute and Q&A with Delroy Williams, Complicated Fun, 2 June 2006