May 29, 2006 13:48
Reggae/Ska legend Desmond Dekker dies
Mon, 29 May 2006
Reggae/Ska legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, south-east England, just a week before his next concert, his manager said on Friday.
The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 hit 'Israelites', collapsed on Thursday morning, said Delroy Williams.
He saw Dekker the night before his death and said the singer-songwriter had seemed fine.
"It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," said Williams, adding that as well as managing Dekker he had been his best friend.
"Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not. When he released 'Israelites' nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them."
The reggae star was the best-known Jamaican musician outside of his country before the ascent of Marley.
He played his last gig at Leeds University, northern England, on May 11 and was due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London.
Williams said: "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up for this summer and he was looking forward to it - and then that was it.
"He died peacefully but it still hurts. I was his manager and his best friend, I don't think anyone knew how close we were - we go back so far."
Williams described Dekker as a private person who would go back to Jamaica from time to time but only to see his family rather than perform.
"He wasn't out there like other stars partying all the time, he just did his job. He lived for his music and his children," the manager said.
Dekker was divorced with a son and a daughter.