Desmond Dekker -R.I.P.

[phil1977]

Don't know if this is fixtures but Desmond Dekker died earlier today.

Saw him at Endorse it festival in August last year and belted out his classics, including The Israelites and 007 (Shanty Town.) He was superb and a great entertainer.

Will be sadly missed

 

[Dave the OAP]

forerunner of reggae

 

[Theatre of Trees]

My ears are alight

RIP

 

[Man of Harveys]

Bloody sad, but his tunes will long outlive him.

 

[bhaexpress]

Skaed for life, R.I.P.

 

[Stinkers Bridge]

Let's all raise a glass for Desmond Dekker

God bless yer Des.

 

[Willow]

Rudy Got Soul, It Mek, Get Up Edina, Intensified, ... great tunes and a great voice to boot.

A true legend. Thanks for the songs, Desmond.

 

[zefarelly]

RIP DD

seen hime live a few times, great artist, good tunes etc

I remember Bad Manners supporting him and they were all stageside when he came on, legend

oooooohhh me ears are alight


uh oh seven . . . . top tunes

 

[The Large One]

Oh bloody hell, that is sad news. Saw him several times, even DJ'd at his gigs a couple of times. Great bloke.

RIP Dessie.

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
so that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
So that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

My wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me.
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone.
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

After a storm there must be a calm.
They catch me in the farm. You sound the alarm.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Poor me, the Israelite.
I wonder who I'm working for.
Poor me, Israelite,
I look a-down and out, sir.



Pure bloody poetry.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Saw him on Jools Holland a couple of years back,one of those new year shows. He did Shanty Town,class act

 

[The Large One]

Reggae legend Desmond Dekker dies

Reggae legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack, his manager has announced. The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 hit Israelites, collapsed at his Surrey home. Manager Delroy Williams said the performer had seemed fine when they met a day earlier.

"It is such a shock. I don't think I will ever get over this," he said, adding that Dekker led the way for reggae stars such as Bob Marley. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. When he released Israelites nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them." The star was divorced with a son and daughter.

He had been due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on 2 June, and numerous dates across Europe during the summer. His last concert was at Leeds University on 11 May. "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up for this summer and he was looking forward to it - and then that was it," Mr Williams said. "He died peacefully but it still hurts. I was his manager and his best friend. I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far." He added: "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly."

Dekker was born on 16 July 1941 in Kingston, Jamaica, and began his working life as a welder before turning to singing full-time. Dekker's hits included Israelites, It Mek and 007 (Shanty Town). His band Desmond Dekker and the Aces topped the UK charts with Israelites, which also made the US top 10.

He moved to the UK in the '70s, later recording the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. The musician's popularity waned in the late '70s and '80s, and Dekker was declared bankrupt in 1984. But a new version of Israelites was released in 1990 and used in television commercials, boosting the star's popularity.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Oh bloody hell, that is sad news. Saw him several times, even DJ'd at his gigs a couple of times. Great bloke.

RIP Dessie.

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
so that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
So that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

My wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me.
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone.
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

After a storm there must be a calm.
They catch me in the farm. You sound the alarm.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Poor me, the Israelite.
I wonder who I'm working for.
Poor me, Israelite,
I look a-down and out, sir.



Pure bloody poetry.

Sounded great even when re-worked by Chops EMC & Extensive (Faze2) in the early 90s.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

No Baked Beans for breakfast tomorrow.

RIP.

 

[Beach Hut]

RIP

 

[Franks Wild Years]

Cheers to you DD

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Pure bloody poetry.

Indeed.

Such economy of words. Much meaning.

 

[Marc]

RIP Desmond