Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska music to the world with songs such as “Israelites,” has died, his manager said Friday. He was 64.
Dekker, who lived in England, collapsed from an apparent heart attack at his home on Thursday, manager Delroy Williams said.
“It is such a shock, I don’t think I will ever get over this,” Williams said.
Dekker’s 1969 song “Israelites,” a Top 10 single in both Britain and the United States, was the first international hit produced by Jamaica’s vibrant music scene. With its haunting vocals and irresistible rhythm, it introduced the world to ska, a precursor to reggae.
“Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not,” Williams said. “When he released ‘Israelites’ nobody had heard of Bob Marley
