The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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DESMOND DEKKER & THE ACES

“ISRAELITES”

(Desmond “DESMOND DEKKER” Dacris, Leslie Kong)

Uni 55129

No. 9   June 28, 1969

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It was Bob Marley who convinced a young Jamaican named Desmond Dacris to approach Leslie Kong,

owner of Beveley’s Records.   Marley and Dacris both worked in the same welding shop. Marley had his

dreams of pop success and would soon achieve his own triumph, but it was Dacris (a.k.a. Desmond

Dekker) who got there first–he became the first successful reg­gae artist in the U.S. and Europe.

“Israelites,” his per­sonalized portrait of the Biblical Exodus saga, was Desmond’s only charting in the

States.   Jamaica and England responded strongly to his rhythms, providing him with a string of popular

singles in those regions.

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Dekker (b. July 16, 1942) grew up in Kingston, Jamaica.   In his teens, he worked the streets as an

amateur performer.   By 1962, knowledgeable natives were calling Desmond “King of the Blue Beat.”

From 1963 through 1969, he won the Golden Globe award as Jamaica’s top vocalist.

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Starting with his initial release (“Honor Your Father and Mother”), his Kong singles repeatedly made the

Jamaican listings.   By 1967, English ears were beginning to take notice of Dekker’s reggae rhythms–“007

(Shanty Town)” nearly made the Top 10 over there.   (A cover version of this tune appeared on the

seminal stateside reggae album The Harder They Come.) .

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Besides “Israelites” and “007,” Desmond secured British chartings with “It Miek” (1969), “Pickney Gal”

(1970), a rendition of Jimmy Cliff’s “You Can Get It If You Really Want” (1970), and “Sing a Little Song”

(1975).   Unfortunately, Dekker’s career slowed to a halt soon after Leslie Kong, his producer and

mentor, died of a heart attack in 1970.

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Stiff Records signed Dekker up at the height of the British rock-steady/ska revival in 1980.   Two LPs fol­

lowed:  Black and Dekker (1980) and the Robert Palmer­ produced Compass Point (1981).