Yesterday, Desmond Dekker, age 64, died at his home in Surrey, England.

This is a truly a great lost for fans of Jamaican music...Desmond Dekker was one of the reasons why I am who I am today, listening to what I listen to. It is doubtful if people like Bob Marley would have been as popular to the world if it weren't for Desmond Dekker, who was one of the first Jamaicans to have a ska song (heck, any form of Jamaican music at that) to become an international chart hitter (his song, "The Israelites" hit the charts in both the U.S. and the UK).

I was lucky enough to have seen him play last year when he came to the U.S., and it was certainly one of the best shows I've ever been to. He just had so much energy, and enthusiasm, it's just so hard to believe that he could die so soon...

I'm at home now, with no access to a microphone, or my collection of Desmond Dekker albums, but I at least have one Desmond Dekker song, perhaps the one he was most known for...this is in memory of Desmon Dekker.

R.I.P. Desmond Dekker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9HCND_SeDw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh5ED9Vrts0