For most persons around the world the internationally popular musical form reggae began with Bob Marley. But last week Sunday Jamaica marked the anniversary of the death of the man who made the first international reggae hits outside of Jamaica. Celebrated exponent of ska, rock steady and reggae, Desmond Dekker (1941-2006) succumbed to a sudden heart attack in England on May 25, 2006. The BBC remembered him on that anniversary, showing that he is indeed, not without some due recognition.
The point of his achievements has to be made because although he was Bob Marley’s ‘John the Baptist,’ who broke into the international circle and announced the arrival of reggae to the world, he is not anywhere near as recognised and remembered as the immortal Marley for whom he paved the way.
