All You Need To Know About Desmond Dekker: Reggae Artist
Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 – 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician who specialized in ska, rocksteady, and reggae. With “Israelites” (1968), he and his backup band The Aces (Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard) scored one of the first international reggae hits. Other chart-topping singles include “007 (Shanty Town)” in 1967, “It Mek” in 1969, and “You Can Get It If You Really Want” in 1970.
Who is Desmond Dekker?
Desmond Dekker was born on July 16, 1941, in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica. Dekker spent his childhood in Kingston. He had been going to the local church with his grandma and aunt since he was a child. This early religious education, combined with Dekker’s pleasure of singing hymns, resulted in a lifetime of religious commitment.
After his mother died, he moved to the parish of St. Mary, then to St. Thomas. Dekker began an apprenticeship as a tailor while at St. Thomas before returning to Kingston to work as a welder. His coworkers had noticed his office singing and urged him to seek a career in music.
He tried out for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle) in 1961, but neither audition was successful. After auditioning for Leslie Kong’s Beverley’s record label, the unsigned vocalist was given his first recording contract.
What was Desmond Dekker’s career?
Despite landing a record deal, Dekker had to wait two years for his debut album to be published. Meanwhile, Dekker noticed Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought him to Kong’s attention. “Judge Not” and “One Cup Of Coffee” became Marley’s first recorded efforts in 1962, and he remained grateful, respectful, and admiring of Dekker for the rest of his life.
Eventually, in 1963, Kong chose “Honour Your Mother and Father” (written by Dekker and sung in his Kong audition two years previously), which became a Jamaican success and launched Dekker’s musical career.
Following this, the songs “Sinners Come Home” and “Labour for Learning” were released. During this time, Desmond Dacres assumed the stage name Desmond Dekker. His fourth song, “King of Ska” (with backing vocals by The Cherrypies, also known as The Maytals), catapulted him to the top of the island’s music charts. Dekker then hired four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive, and Barry Howard, to be his permanent backing vocalists under the moniker Desmond Dekker and the Aces.
What are some of Desmond Dekker’s hit songs?
- 007 (Shanty Town)
- Israelites
- Ah It Mek
- Fu Manchu
- You Can Get It If You Really Want
- Rude Boy Train
- Baby Come Back
- Sabotage
- Pickney Gal
- King of Ska
