2006年VOA标准英语-Jamaican Music Legend Desmond Dekker Dies of He

By Brian Wagner
Miami
26 May 2006

Desmond Dekker album cover   
  
Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker, who helped bring reggae to an international stage in the 1960s, died at his home in Britain on Thursday. His manager said the 64-year-old suffered a heart attack. For the Jamaican community, Dekker was one of the island's first music legends.

Born in 1941, Desmond Dekker worked as a welder¹ in Kingston before finding that his singing talents could help him earn a living. His first reggae hit was released in 1963, entitled "Honor Your Father and Mother," which soared to the top of the Jamaican charts. After joining with four brothers who were back-up singers known as the Aces², Dekker released a number of songs, including several that were hits in the United States and Britain.

For international fans of reggae, Dekker's name may not be as familiar as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, who rose to fame in the 1970s. But Davion, a Jamaican restaurant worker in Miami, says Desmond Dekker came first. "He's a household name especially with the older folks. Bob Marley those guys, they grew up respecting him. He's legendary³, a true legend of Jamaican music," he said.

With music playing on the speakers in his restaurant, Davion says that tastes in reggae may have changed in recent years. But he says Dekker's style of reggae has been a major influence. "It's the original music that created everything. All the older folks can appreciate it more. But in recent times, there's a lot of other stuff stemming from that kind of music. But that was the original stuff, so you have to give that respect," he said.

Dekker's biggest hit on the international charts was the 1969 song "Israelites" in which he sings about the hard-scrabble life in Kingston's ghettoes.

Dekker's death from a heart attack came only two weeks after performing at Leeds Metropolitan⁴ University. He was to sing in Prague next week and had several other concerts scheduled for Europe this year.

1 welder   

n电焊工

参考例句：

• He left school at 15 to become an apprentice to a welder.他15岁离开了中学成为一个焊接工人的学徒。
• Welder done at least once a month when the dust handling.焊机时每月至少做一次除尘处理。

2 aces   

abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率；aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅；automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 )；精于…的人；（ 网球 ）（对手接不到发球的）发球得分；爱司球

参考例句：

• The local representative of ACES will define the local area. ACES的当地代表将划定当地的范围。 来自互联网
• Any medical expenses not covered by ACES insurance are the sole responsibility of the parents. 任何ACES保险未包括的医疗费用一律是父母的责任。 来自互联网

3 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

4 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。