17 Facts About Yellowman

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

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 during the early 1980s.

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 was persuaded to incorporate elements from rhythm and blues and disco which did not please international dancehall fans.

Ultimately, CBS dropped Yellowman, who returned to his classic riddims and slackness, and his career quickly recovered.

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 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.

Yellowman was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in two occasions; in 1985 for King Yellowman, and in 1998 for Freedom of Speech.

Yellowman was the first dancehall artist to be nominated for this category.

Yellowman is a fan of the NBA and attended some games in the mid-1980s.

Between late 1984 and 1986 it was diagnosed that the cancer had spread to his jaw; Yellowman underwent very invasive jaw surgery to remove a malignant tumor.

Yellowman spent some time in convalescence before returning to music and performing live shows again in 1987.