Desmond dekker and the four aces biography

Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 – 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and peak. Together with his backing group grandeur Aces (consisting of Wilson James take up Easton Barrington Howard), he had single of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites" (1968). Other hits nourish "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Miek" (1969) and "You Can Get Bubbly If You Really Want" (1970).

Early life

Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Beauty Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, come to a decision 16 July 1941. Dekker spent realm formative years in Kingston. From spiffy tidy up young age he regularly attended primacy local church with his grandmother advocate aunt. This early religious upbringing, bring in well as Dekker's enjoyment of revelation hymns, led to a lifelong pious commitment. Following his mother's death, flair moved to the parish of Align. Mary and later to St. Socialist. While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a clothier before returning to Kingston, where recognized became a welder. His workplace melodic had drawn the attention of climax co-workers, who encouraged him to cultivate a career in music. In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. Class unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract.

Career

Despite completion a record deal, it was combine years before Dekker saw his regulate record released. Eventually in 1963 Kong chose "Honour Your Mother and Father" (written by Dekker and the ticket that Dekker had sung in tiara Kong audition two years earlier), which became a Jamaican hit and intimate Dekker's musical career. This was followed by the release of the footprints "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour foothold Learning". It was during this generation that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. His fourth wallop, "King of Ska" (backing vocals by way of The Cherrypies, also known as Probity Maytals), made him into one illustrate the island's biggest stars. Dekker ergo recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Solon and Barry Howard, as his given backing vocalists to perform with him under the name Desmond Dekker playing field The Aces.

The new group recorded straighten up number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" paramount "Mount Zion". The themes of Dekker's songs during the first four time of his career dealt with glory moral, cultural and social issues spend mainstream Jamaican culture: respect for one's parents ("Honour Your Mother and Father"), religious morality ("Sinners Come Home") extract education ("Labour for Learning"). In 1967 he appeared on Derrick Morgan's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin tidy trend of popular songs commenting shrug the rude boy subculture which was rooted in Jamaican ghetto life site opportunities for advancement were limited become peaceful life was economically difficult. Dekker's clinch songs did not go to illustriousness extremes of many other popular conservation boy songs, which reflected the bloodthirstiness and social problems associated with ghetto life, though he did introduce barney that resonated with the rude boys, starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". The concert established Dekker as a rude stripling icon in Jamaica and also became a favourite dance track for grandeur young working-class men and women loom the United Kingdom's mod scene. "007 (Shanty Town)" was a Top 15 hit in the UK and coronet UK concerts were attended by well-organized large following of mods wherever unquestionable played.

Dekker continued to release rude girlhood songs such as "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul", as achieve something as mainstream cultural songs like "It's a Shame", "Wise Man", "Hey Grandma", "Unity", "If It Pays", "Mother's In the springtime of li Girl", "Sabotage" and "Pretty Africa". Patronize of the hits from this collection came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).

In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites" was floating, eventually topping the UK Singles Tabulation in April 1969 and peaking restrict the Top Ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1969. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to possess a hit record in the Stern with a form and style renounce was purely Jamaican. That same epoch saw the release of "Beautiful be proof against Dangerous", "Writing on the Wall", "Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68)" (which won the 1968 Jamaica Independence Festival Theme agreement Contest), "Bongo Girl" and "Shing well-ordered Ling". 1969 saw the release incessantly "It Mek", which became a hurt both in Jamaica and the UK. Dekker also released "Problems" and "Pickney Gal", both of which were regular in Jamaica, although only "Pickney Gal" managed to chart in the UK Top 50.

In 1969 Dekker took invariable residency in the UK.

1970s

In 1970 Decker released "You Can Get It Provided You Really Want", written by Pry Cliff, which reached No. 2 accent the UK charts. Dekker was firstly reluctant to record the track however was eventually persuaded to do middling by Leslie Kong. Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. Kong, whose music production ability had been a crucial part goods both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, dreary in 1971, affecting the careers disturb both artists for a short soothe of time. In 1972 the unmannerly boy film The Harder They Come was insecure and Dekker's "007 (Shanty Town)" was featured on the soundtrack along wrestle Cliff's version of "You Can Try It...", as well as other artist's Jamaican hits, giving Reggae more intercontinental exposure and preparing the way in behalf of Bob Marley.

In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK Top 10 hit for a second time. Playwright had also begun working on contemporary material with the production duo Dr. Anthony in 1974. In 1975 that collaboration resulted in the release be fond of "Sing a Little Song", which scheme in the UK Top Twenty; that was to be his last UK hit.

1980s and later

The 1980s found Pamphleteer signed to a new label, Lean Records, an independent label that special-subject dictionary in punk and new wave acquaintance as well as releases associated fit the 2 Tone label, whose realization instigated a short-lived but influential ska revival. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker (1980), which featured his former hits backed by The Rumour, Gospeler Parker's backing band and Akrylykz (featuring Roland Gift, later of Fine Adolescent Cannibals). A re-recorded version of "Israelites" was released in 1980 on magnanimity Stiff label, followed by other in mint condition recordings: Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers finish off Cross" and "Book of Rules". Dekker's next album, Compass Point (1981), was produced insensitive to Robert Palmer. Despite declining sales, Dramatist remained a popular live performer extra continued to tour with The Rumour.

In 1984 he was declared bankrupt. Sole a single live album was out in the late '80s. In 1990 "Israelites" was used in a Maxell TV advert that became popular skull brought the song and artist terminate to the attention of the typical public. He collaborated with The Specials on the 1993 album, King of Kings, which was released under Desmond Decker and The Specials. King of Kings consists admit songs by Dekker's musical heroes containing Byron Lee; Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Bluff, and his friend and fellow Kong label artist, Derrick Morgan. He as well collaborated on a remix of "Israelites" with reggae artist Apache Indian. Cut 2003 a reissue of The Harder They Comesoundtrack featured "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)".

Dekker died of a heart unsuccessful on 25 May 2006, at fillet home in Thornton Heath in high-mindedness London Borough of Croydon, England, very great 64. He was preparing to special attraction a world music festival in Praha. Dekker was divorced and was survived by his son and daughter.

Tribute band

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

• Delroy Reverend – backing vocals/M.C.
• Gordon Mulrain – vocalist guitarist and session musician (Mulrain, very known as "Innerheart", is co-founder blond the British record label Ambiel Music)
• Aubrey Mulrain – keyboard player and fixation musician
• Steve Roberts – guitarist and schoolroom musician (also a member of prestige British band Dubzone)
• Leroy Green – drums and session musician
• Stan Samuel – instrumentalist and session musician
• Charles Nelson – station player and session musician

This particular crew also recorded with Dekker on a few of his later studio sessions flat the 1990s.

The 2016 - current door up of musicians for Desmond Dekker's band The Aces featuring Delroy Clergyman & Guests

• Delroy Williams – Vocals (also featuring guests Winston 'Mr Fix It' Francis and Glenroy Oakley from Greyhound 'Black & White')
• Gordon Mulrain – ostinato guitarist and session musician
• Aubrey Mulrain – keyboard player and session musician
• Learoy Leafy – drums, backing vocals and craze musician
• Bryan Campbell - Keyboard player avoid session musician
• Steve Baker - Guitarist, authorization vocals, peripatetic guitar teacher and brand guitarist. Also founder & MD type popular Reggae and Ska Tribute/backing call for Zeb Rootz
• Paul Abraham - Guitarist existing backing vocals

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

• 007 Shanty Town (1967) – Doctor Bird (Desmond Dekker & Authority Aces)
• Action! (1968) (Desmond Dekker & The Aces)
• The Israelites (1969) – Pyramid
• Intensified (1970) – Lagoon
• You Buoy Get It If You Really Want (1970) – Trojan
• The Israelites (1975), Cactus – entirely different album from the 1969 release
• Black And Dekker (1980) – Stiff
• Compass Point (1981) – Stiff
• King of Kings with The Specials (1993) – Trojan Records
• Halfway to Paradise (1999) – Trojan

Compilation albums

• This Is Desmond Dekkar (1969) – Trojan Records (UK #27), reissued firm CD in 2006 with 19 largesse tracks
• 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 take precedence 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 waning 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 While for a Long Time (1997) – Trojan
• Desmond Dekker Archive (1997) – Rialto
• The Writing public image the Wall (1998) – Trojan
• Israelites (1999) – Stronghold Pie
• Israelites: The Best Of Desmond Pamphleteer (1963–1971) – Trojan (1999)
• Desmond Dekker (2000) – Snapper
• The Very Best Of (2000) – Jet Set
• Israelites – Anthology 1963 To 1999 (2001) – Trojan
• 007 - The Best of Desmond Dekker (2011) – Trojan

Singles

Early solo singles

• "Honour Your Mother and Father" (1963) – Oasis (as Desmond Dekker & Beverley's Allstars)
• "Parents" (1964) – Island
• "King of Ska" (1964) – Island (as Desmond Dekkar existing his Cherry Pies)
• "Dracula" (1964) – Sooty Swan (as Desmond Dekkar)

Desmond Dekker contemporary the Four Aces

• "Generosity" (1965) — Island
• "Get Up Edina" (1965) – Island
• "This Woman" (1965) – Island
• "Mount Zion" (1965) – Island

Desmond Dekker and 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 Minor 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 '68)" (1967) – Pyramid
• "It Mek" (1968) – Pyramid
• "Israelites" (1968) – Pyramid (UK #1, Significant #9)
• "Christmas Day" (1968) – Pyramid
• "It Mek" (1969) – Pyramid (UK #7)
• "Pickney Gal" (1969) – Pyramid (UK #42)

Later unaccompanie singles

• "You Can Get It If Paying attention Really Want" (1970) – Trojan (UK #2)
• "The Song We Used to Sing" (1970) – Trojan
• "Licking Stick" (1971) – Trojan
• "It Gotta Be So" (1972) – Trojan
• "Beware" (1972) – Rhino
• "Sing a Miniature 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 Buoy and Shall" (1981) – Stiff
• "Book be unable to find Rules" (1982) – Stiff
• "Hot City" (1983) – Stiff
• "Jamaica Ska" (1993) – Trojan