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Will be missed by the world: Dekker

Tributes have been pouring in for reggae/ska legend Desmond Dekker who died in London last week, aged 64.

The ska hitmaker was preparing for a hectic European summer tour when he suffered a heart attack at home in Thornton Heath, Surrey.

Manager and friend for the past 26 years Delroy Williams was beyond himself with grief last week as he told The Voice of the tremendous sense of loss the family was experiencing. “We were together on Tuesday evening working out plans for the summer and planned to meet the next morning. Desmond was in good shape and it is deeply tragic to us that he has gone so suddenly.”

The music community was in shock as news of the Israelites singer’s death spread. Desmond Dekker was still an immensely popular performer around Europe and his music cut across races and communities.

Desmond Dekker left Jamaica in 1968 with his family when the timeless classic Israelites went to number one in the UK. He had been a consistent hitmaker in Jamaica where he won the festival song competition with Intensified.

Williams, who toured with Dekker as a guitarist/singer said the response from around the world has been phenomenal. “On Friday I did more than 90 interviews and the emails have been thousands. This speaks of the immense popularity of the man.”

Desmond Dekker leaves two children, Desrine and Desmond Jr.

Published: 30 May 2006
Issue: 1220

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