Yellowman (born Winston Foster in Negril, Jamaica in 1959) is a Jamaican ragga and dancehall deejay. He was extremely popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, coming to prominence with a series of funky, sexy singles that established his reputation. His exaggerated sexual prowess, combined with his long-time social outcast status as an albino (who are denigrated in Jamaica), made Yellowman very popular.

Sexually explicit lyrics earned Yellowman criticism in the mid-1980s, along with most of the rest of the ragga community. By the mid-1990s, though, Yellowman released socially conscious material, rising to international fame as part of a popularization led by singers like Buju Banton.

Yellowman overcame two major obstacles: he became popular with his music despite being an albino, and he became as highly recognized in Jamaica as Bob Marley, who popularized reggae in the first place during the 1960s and 1970s. During the early 1980s, Yellowman had over 40 singles and sometimes produced five albums in one year.

In the early 1990s, Yellowman struggled with skin cancer. This led him to re-invent himself with his 1994 album Prayer. He has from then on almost completely devoted his time to spiritual and other social concerns. His latest records were New York in 2003 and Round 1 in 2005.

Another similar albino Jamaican artist who followed Yellowman's musical style is the young deejay Al Beeno, also known as 'Prince Yellow'.

Popular Albums

• Mister Yellowman (1982)
• Zungguzungguguzungguzeng (1983)
• Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (1984)
• Galong Galong Galong (1985)
• Yellow Like Cheese (1987)
• Yellowman Rides Again (1988)
• A Feast of Yellow Dub (1990)
• Party (1991)
• Reggae on the Move (1992)
• Prayer (1994)
• Message to the World (1995)
• Divorced (For Your Eyes Only) (1983)
• Freedom of Speech (1997)
• RAS Portraits – Yellowman (1997)
• A Very, Very, Yellow Christmas (1998)
• Yellow Fever (1999)
• New York (2003)
• Just Cool (2004)
• Round 1 (2005)

External links

• Yellowman's profile at RAS Records
• Yellowman: Selection Without Objection – album reviews

References

• http://www.vitalspot.com/Yellowman/YellowmanContents.html
• http://www.kingyellowman.com

Yellowman | Yellowman

Albinos | Reggae musicians | Jamaican musicians | Dancehall musicians | Male singers | Jamaican songwriters | 1959 births | Living people