Reggae star Desmond Dekker dies

Reggae legend Desmond Dekker has died suddenly from a heart attack – only a week before his next concert, his manager said today.

The 64-year-old Jamaican, best known for his 1969 smash hit Israelites, collapsed at his home in Surrey yesterday morning.

His devastated manager and best friend, Delroy Williams, said he had seen him the night before and he seemed fine.

“It is such a shock, I don’t think I will ever get over this,” he said.

“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.”

Dekker, who was divorced with a son and a daughter, played his last gig at Leeds University on May 11.

He was due to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on June 2, before heading on to Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London.

Mr 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.”

Mr Williams said he had seen the singer on Wednesday night: “He just left my house in the evening and said ‘See you in the morning’.

“I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye properly.”

He 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.”