Biography of Desmond Dekker

Born Desmond Dacres in Kingston, Desmond Dekker scored a stunning international hit with with an unlikely ode to a small Christian/Rastafarian cult in 1969. Propelled by obscure lyrics and a quirky, galloping beat, Dekker's "Israelites" brought Jamaican rock-steady music to the Top Ten in America and Europe largely on the strength of an incredible, soaring tenor rarely heard in pop. But back home Dekker was already a mainstay with a succession of drop-dead beautiful singles beginning with "Honor Your Mother and Your Father" in 1963 and including 1967's rude boy anthem "007 (Shanty Town)" featured in the film "The Harder They Come." As rock-steady made way for reggae, Dekker faded from the scene. Despite a pair of solid albums for Stiff Records in 1980 and 1981 (both out of print but worth seeking) and the use of "Israelites" in two recent movie soundtracks, he hasn't made the comeback other rock-steady-era pioneers like Lee Perry, Johnny Clarke, or Toots Hibbert have achieved. The purity of his voice and his witty approach to songwriting are sorely missed. Gift us again, Desmond. ~ Bob Tarte