On This Day 07/05/1976 Desmond Dekker

On this day, 7 May 1976, Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician Desmond Dekker played Cardiff’s Top Rank.

In 1975, his hit "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. In 1975 this collaboration resulted in the release of "Sing a Little Song", which charted in the UK top twenty, this was to be his last UK hit.

In 1976, Desmond Dekker was actively touring and performing, maintaining a strong presence on the British and European club circuits during the mid-70s. Having moved to the UK, he was solidifying his reputation as a key figure in spreading ska and reggae internationally, with setlists featuring classics like "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)"

On This Day 7/5/1976 Desmond Dekker

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On this day, 7 May 1976, Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae singer-songwriter and musician Desmond Dekker played the Top Rank, Cardiff.

Together with his backing group The Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites" (1968).

In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK Top 10 hit for a second time. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974.

In 1975 this collaboration resulted in the release of "Sing a Little Song", which charted in the UK Top Twenty; this was to be his last UK hit.