Desmond Dekker

Dubbed "the King of Ska," Desmond Dekker is one of the key artists in the history of Jamaican music. An instrumental figure in the development of ska and its slightly mellower cousin, rocksteady, Dekker was also one the first reggae performers to break big in the U.K., laying the groundwork for that country's late 1970s 2 Tone movement. While his full body of work is impressive and of consistently high quality, he will perhaps be best remembered for his 1968 international hit, "The Israelites," arguably one of the most uplifting songs in the history of pop music. Sadly, Desmond Dekker died in 2006 at the age of 64.

• Alton Ellis/Hortense Ellis
• Delroy Wilson
• Derrick Morgan
• Jimmy Cliff
• Prince Buster
• The Skatalites
• The Uniques (Reggae)
• Toots Hibbert

• Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
• Fats Domino
• James Brown
• Lee Dorsey
• Lee "Scratch" Perry
• Lord Creator
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

• Gregory Isaacs/Dennis Brown
• Madness
• No Doubt
• Rancid
• Symarip
• The Congos
• The Slackers
• The Special AKA
• The Toasters

Add to your Bio

Write a memory or review about...