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Yellowman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Yellowman, born Winston Foster in 1956, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He grew up in a children's home and later at the Alpha Boys School in Kingston, a school with a famous musical tradition. Because he is albino, he was shunned in Jamaica. In 1978 he came second in the Tastee Talent Contest, and the following year he won it. That marked the start of his professional career. He performed often at sound system dances, especially with Aces International, and worked in the early 1980s with the producer Henry Junjo Lawes. In 1981 he became the first dancehall artist to sign with a major American label, Columbia.

Music and breakthrough

His first album, Mister Yellowman, was released in 1982. Zungguzungguguzungguzeng followed in 1983 and was an immediate success. In the early 1980s he had more than forty singles and released up to five albums a year. In 1987 his version of Blueberry Hill topped the chart in Jamaica for several weeks. His sexually charged lyrics drew criticism, but he said he was simply telling what goes on behind closed doors. With the 1994 album Prayer he turned to religious themes.

Influence

Deejays talk or rap in a rhythmic style over an instrumental bass line, the riddim. Yellowman was one of the first of the new generation of dancehall deejays and brought the genre to an international audience. He was nominated for a Grammy twice.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Zungguzungguguzungguzeng and notice the nonsense words in the title and the chorus. Notice how his voice itself sets down a rhythm, almost like an extra instrument.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: ArtistsDancehall