12 Facts About Yellowman

Winston Foster, better known by the stage name Yellowman, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, known as King Yellowman.

Yellowman first became popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, rising to prominence with a series of singles that established his reputation.

Yellowman was shunned due to having albinism, which was not typically socially accepted in Jamaica.

Yellowman had success as a recording artist, working with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes.

In 1981, after becoming popular throughout Jamaica, Yellowman became the first dancehall artist to be signed to a major American label.

Yellowman appeared in Jamaican Dancehall Volcano Hi-power 1983 which featured other major dancehall musicians such as Massive Dread, Josey Wales, Burro Banton and Eek-A-Mouse.

Yellowman had success in 1987 with a version of "Blueberry Hill", that topped the charts for several weeks in Jamaica.

Yellowman had met Fats Domino when the American performed on the island earlier in the decade, and Domino had presented him with a copy of his version.

Yellowman re-invented himself with his 1994 album Prayer, which stepped away from the slackness that gave him his initial fame.

Yellowman was a featured guest vocalist on the Run-DMC track "Roots Rap Reggae".

Yellowman continues to perform internationally with his Sagittarius Band, and has toured through places such as Nigeria where he retains a following of fans, as well as Spain, Peru, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Britain, France, Kenya, the United States and Canada.

In 1986 it was diagnosed that the cancer had spread to his jaw; Yellowman underwent very invasive jaw surgery to remove a malignant tumor.