Desmond Dekker

[InsaneApache]

A true reggae legend has died, a great loss.


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.

Israelites (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5018910.stm)

:jamaica:

[Tachikaze]

I was thinking of starting this thread.

I consider his prime to be during the rock steady era, although obituaries cite him as ska or reggae.

In addition to "Israelites", I also love "Shanty Town", and, especially "It Mek".

Hearing of his death was a strange coincidence, because I was just listening to him yesterday for the first time in a while.

[Tribesman]

A shame , but it comes to everyone in time
I luckily saw him perform many times .

[Bulawayo]

Too bad :san_sad:

He was booked on for Uppsala Reggae Festival in Sweden this summer, but now we can't see him anymore. The great guys of the festival did however give the money they already paid to Desmonds family :2thumbsup: