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Reggae Legend Desmond Dekker Dies of Heart Attack

lDekker: "I loved music from when I was knee high when I heard a song I liked I always liked to sing it by myself.”

Singer Desmond Dekker died of hearth attack at the age of 64, said his manager, Delroy Williams. Dekker was the first reggae artist to top the UK charts, and so became a legend in the filed.

The star was due to perform this summer at the Respect Festival in Prague and in numerous European cities. "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up, and he was looking forward to it," said Williams.

Dekker was the best-known Jamaican musician outside of his country, and one of the most popular within it.

"I used to listen to rock Bill Haley little Richard all of the rock and roll singers. I loved music from when I was knee high when I heard a song I liked I always liked to sing it by myself," the singer used to say.

In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites" was released, appearing on both the U.S. and UK singles chart, and eventually topping the latter and peaking in the Top Ten of the former.

He was the first Jamaican performer to enter U.S. markets with pure Jamaican music, though he never repeated the feat. Equally, the track became the first reggae song to top the UK chart.