Heart attack kills Desmond Dekker of Israelites

[otohara]

By Caroline Davies
(Filed: 27/05/2006)

Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican reggae singer who had an international hit with the song Israelites, has died suddenly from a heart attack aged 64.

He collapsed at his Surrey home on Thursday, his manager and best friend Delroy Williams said yesterday.


He had been due to perform next week in Prague, and had further appearances booked in Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London.

"It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this, " said Mr Williams, who had seen the singer the night before his death. "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.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/27/ndes27.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/27/ixuknews.html

[Gold Metal Flake]

1. The bass line of Isriaelites gives me goosebumps every time I hear it

What a loss for the world.

[Canuckistanian]

2. Sorry to hear that

The Israelites is one of my favorite songs from the 60's.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I was going to school in England

when the Israelites was a big hit. What a great musical time to live in the UK. He was a superb performer.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Get up in de morning...

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

Get up in de 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.

[panader0]

6. Thanks TG , I always wondered about some of those lyrics

[peekaloo]

5. RIP.

one of my favorite songs as a kid. He was my introduction to reggae.

:-(

[etherealtruth]

7. A program on my NPR station ...

Paid tribute to him yesterday. Very sad.

[sendero]

8. Too sad....

... I loved "The Isrealites" and even later his contribution to the "The Harder They Come" soundtrack called "007 - Shanty Town".

That early reggae has a power and passion all its own.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

9. R.I.P. Mr. Dekker

I hope life was good to you - sorry you have left it; may death be good to you too.

[jpak]

10. "Black & Dekker" is one of my all time faves

especially the send-up rendition of Isrealites....

[slaveplanet]

11. Godspeed DD

[tularetom]

12. I had one of his tapes in my cassette player

on a non stop trip from CA to TN to visit relatives back in the 80's. Played it nonstop for like 48 hours and it drove my wife fucking nuts. Kept me awake though. He recorded a lot of other great songs in the ska years like Shanty Town, Warlock, It Mek, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and made a terrific album with the Specials in recent years. Sorry to see him go.

[newyawker99]

13. Rest in peace Mr Dekker.

:-(

[Spirochete]

14. R.I.P. Desmond

"Israelite" was the first reggae song I ever heard. I liked that one a lot.