While he"s generally acknowledged as the "King Of Ska", Dekker"s biggest hits, which he recorded with producer Leslie Kong, were prime examples of rock steady and early reggae. But what hits! "Israelites," "007 (Shanty Town)," "It Mek" wrapped the cool riddims around some glorious pop music to become international hits, all led by Dekker"s high distinctive voice. It was Dekker who introduced Ska to the outside world. Fellow Jamaican Bob Marley became a bigger star, but Dekker was the trailblazer. He is the "Desmond" referred to in The Beatles" 1968 Ob-La-di, Ob-La-da. His music continued to develop and he enjoyed considerable success in the UK. But, there was a darker side. The Rude Boy culture that emerged in 60s Jamaica was often very violent. Dekker celebrates and glamorizes this in songs like "007 (Shanty Town)," "Rudy Got Soul" and "Rude Boy Train." In Britain, these songs were taken up by the Mod gangs, and later by Skinheads. Rude-boys icon Dekker wrote his most memorable songs as an observer of everyday life. He emphasised how politics was not an interest. And so, in his own words, he regarded himself as a newscaster. "I just write what I see and I present that to the people if they weren"t there to let them know what was happening." Shortly before his death Desmond went into a London studio to recreate some of his biggest hits and then made one last concert tour of the UK. Dekker was up there with the giants; 30 years later, the best still sounds wonderful.