KING YELLOWMAN

Performs Thursday, January 26

Top three songs

Zungguzungguguzungguzeng

I'm Getting Married

Blueberry Hill

BIO

King Yellowman has an incredible history in reggae music. His upbringing at the Maxfield Home orphanage in Kingston and being albino in Jamaica were two obstacles he overcame and went on to be (at one time) the biggest reggae artiste since Bob Marley.

After winning a talent contest at Tastee Patties in Kingston, Yellowman went on to excite reggae crowds all over Jamaica and the rest of the world with his boastful and sometimes bodacious lyrics. His ability to ride a rhythm and excite a crowd made Yellow an instant hit in Jamaica. He also began to work with the Ace sound system in St Thomas and drew big crowds at his dancehall performances.

Later in his career, Yellow began to spread out and work for a number of different producers, sometimes releasing as many as five albums per year. This led to a recording contract with CBS Records. Yellowman recorded one album with them before he was diagnosed with skin cancer and was given six months to live. This was in 1986. After surgery (where he removed his jawbone) and an extended leave of absence from the record industry, Yellowman began his comeback with the song Blueberry Hill, and his career was re-launched. His first album for RAS Records came from producer the late Phillip 'Fattis' Burrell and was called Yellow Like Cheese.

Coincidentally, this was the start of a long and fruitful relationship with RAS and Fattis' Exterminator Production. Yellowman has always been very professional to work with and has always been a respectful and reliable human being. He has managed, not only to outlast the six months he was given to live, but has given performances that are incredibly lively. Yellowman seems to have an unlimited amount of stage energy. He has continued his hard work, and his devotion to his family is to be complimented. The rudest dancehall toaster of the 1980s, Jamaica's albino son, Yellowman, made as many enemies as fans with his controversial, often overtly sexist (if tongue in cheek) lyrics. Now back on the reggae scene, singing at a slightly slower pace, Yellowman's witticisms are as cheeky, spirited, and intelligent as ever and delivered with his customary sharp, melodic style.