Yellowman

Yellowman is a dancehall and reggae artist from Kingston, Jamaica. He is known as one of the most popular reggae performers to emerge from Jamaica, and he is also known by the title “King” Yellowman. He is an alumnus of Alpha Boys School, where many Jamaican musicians receive early training.

Early career

Born Winston Foster, Yellowman begins performing in the late 1970s as a DJ, also described as a toaster or rapper. His albino appearance becomes a central part of his early public image, and he develops a reputation for self-effacing humour and sharp lyrics. He wins the annual Tastee Talent contest in Jamaica in 1978 and, within months, becomes a headlining act on Jamaican stage shows.

Recording career

Yellowman records his first albums with producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes, and these early releases appear internationally on the UK label Greensleeves in the early 1980s. His songs combine witty, topical material with explicit lyrics and social commentary. After Bob Marley’s death in 1981, he becomes one of the leading figures in reggae as dancehall gains wider prominence. He tours successfully in the UK and the US and later signs with CBS/Columbia Records for the album King Yellowman.

Later work and recognition

His popularity declines somewhat in the late 1980s, but he continues to record at a steady pace and tours widely. In the early 1990s, he fights and wins a battle with cancer. He performs with his long-time backing group, the Sagittarius Band, and spends several months each year on tour. His 1997 release Freedom Of Speech, issued on RAS Records, brings him his first Grammy nomination. A later release, Yellow Fever, is produced by King Jammys.