Desmond Dekker Biography
Desmond Dekker, born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16, 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter as well as musician. He increased to importance throughout the 1960s as one of the leaders of the ska movement, prior to accomplishing worldwide success in the late 1960s with his hit songs "007 (Shanty Town)" and also "Israelites." As a key number in presenting Jamaican music to a bigger target market, Dekker played a prominent function in the growth and also advancement of reggae and has had a long lasting effect on the music scene worldwide.
The child of a welder as well as a seamstress, Dekker was brought up in poverty in the Kingston residential area of Saint Andrew Parish. Although he had a difficult childhood, he discovered solace in vocal singing, usually executing at school and also at local churches. He was inspired by the American R&B and the Jamaican Mento songs that he listened to on the radio. At the age of sixteen, he left school as well as began functioning as a welder together with his daddy. During this time, he continued to pursue his interest for vocal singing, also participating in regional talent contests.
In 1961, Dekker made his first major enter the songs industry when he auditioned for fabulous Jamaican record producer Leslie Kong. Impressed by his talent, Kong authorized the young vocalist, that then went on to adopt the stage name Desmond Dekker. Under Kong's guidance, Dekker released his first single, "Honour Your Father as well as Mother" in 1963. It was complied with by a string of ska strikes throughout the 1960s, including "King of Ska," "Rude Boy Train," "Get Up Edina," as well as "Mount Zion."
Dekker's breakthrough was available in 1967 when he released "007 (Shanty Town)," a track regarding the tensions as well as challenges faced by Jamaica's city inadequate. The tune came to be a significant hit in Jamaica and also the United Kingdom, gaining Dekker global acknowledgment. It was complied with by the also larger hit "Israelites" in 1968, which topped the UK Singles Chart and also broke into the United States Billboard Hot 100 graph. This track marked the very first time a Jamaican artist attained this degree of international success, as well as Dekker came to be an icon of the arising reggae activity.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dekker continued to release music, notably collaborating with the British punk band The Specials on their 1980 hit "Rat Race." He additionally rerecorded as well as re-released several of his older singles to cater to brand-new fans. Nevertheless, by the late 1980s, his appeal started to subside, and he dealt with financial problems after the fatality of his veteran manufacturer and coach Leslie Kong in 1971.
In the very early 1990s, Dekker made an effective return after his music was featured in prominent movies and also advertisements, stimulating renewed rate of interest in his career. He launched the album "King of Kings" in 1995, a partnership with reggae legends The Specials as well as The Skatalites. In his later years, Dekker proceeded performing real-time shows throughout the globe, sealing his status as a Jamaican music tale.
Unfortunately, Desmond Dekker died on May 25, 2006, at the age of 64, from a cardiac arrest in his house in Surrey, England. His legacy as a pioneer of Jamaican music remains intact, as well as his music continues to be commemorated and appreciated by fans around the globe.
Our collection contains 9 quotes who is written / told by Desmond.
Related authors: Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)
Discography:
