Rock steady

Yellowman can't be beat

by Joe Longone

Yellowman's story is a compelling one. This international reggae star, who comes to the Plantation Club this Sunday, has faced a life of adversity but has lived to sing about it. Although he first strived for acceptance, he now looks for respect as a man and as an artist. Like any other Jamaican singer living under the shadow of the Marley legend, Yellowman continues to fight for his portion of the rock-steady beat.

Mirroring the tale of the ugly duckling that grew up to be a swan, the albino Yellowman (born Winston Foster in 1956) grew up in Kingston. As a child, he was teased and tormented, finding refuge in the Jamaican folk music of the '60s (ska, Dub, Reggae, etc.) which inspired him to go on hoping that someday he would be accepted for who he was.

Yellowman spent most of his youth institutionalized before getting a job at the Gemini Sound System as a fill-in DJ. Developing a distinctive style and personality, he adopted a strutting swagger, which closely followed the growing American R&B scene. He dressed in a florescent-yellow suit and hat, and took Jamaica's 1979 Tastee Talent Contest by storm coming away with top honors. A boy who was once spat on by his neighbors was suddenly seen as the new hope for Jamaican music.

Yellowman quickly became the island's number-one toaster (reggae rapper). His wild dancehall shows, and his continuous flow of new recordings that focused on the romantic side of relationships, made him a Jamaican sex symbol -- not bad for a young man once considered a freak.

Soon after many of his live and studio discs began appearing in US record stores, CBS signed the singer and his accompanying musicians, the Sagittarius Band, releasing their first American album King Yellowman. Although their big-label deal was short-lived, it did get Yellowman and company a worldwide tour.

Most of his shows and recordings offer up a unique combination of humor, social concern, and a good dose of the singer's own self-promotion. His name is etched in the lyrics of many of their songs.

When you talk about the quality of any reggae artist it ultimately comes down to the sound. The Sagittarius Band know how to lay down a beat. Listening to Yellowman sing is like watching Michael Jordan play basketball. He knows he's got it, you know he's got it, and it's a trip just experiencing him perform. He demonstrates a confidence and natural sway in singing style that would convince you that this guy could burp and make it sound rockin'.

Yellowman has also been a pioneer of mixing reggae with other musical styles -- but some of these excursions have been greeted with less-than-critical praise. Cover versions of "Chapel of Love" and "Sea Cruise" not to mention the lame idea of "Disco Reggae" are uninspired moves. But when he sticks with plain old reggae there may be no one better.

In recent years, health problems (bouts with both throat and skin cancer) have shaped Yellowman into a more serious recording artist. Two recent releases, Prayer and Message to the World, have him pointing to many of the political problems of the day which, he says, are still rooted in racism and won't be changed unless people accept the responsibility of making changes.

I had the opportunity to speak with Yellowman while he is traveling with his band on their current US tour. He talked about their latest show.

"On this tour our shows are divided into three sections: dance music, a look back at the roots of the music, and all our old hits," he says. "I see this show covering many different aspects of reggae."

What do you think of the ska revival in the US? "Ska is a much older music than reggae. I'm glad to see it. Our next album is going to have a few ska numbers on it."

What about reggae's place? "I see reggae becoming more and more influential. It's a music that can make you happy while still teaching you things. I want people to have a good time but also leave thinking about how this world could be better. As I say on our new record, Message to the World, if we finally end racism and take care of our own relationships we all can be one nation."

Yellowman appears at the Plantation Club at 8 p.m. on June 15. Tickets are $10. Call 752-4666.