Yellowman Beats All Odds; Embarks on N. American Tour

His fans call him King Yellowman because he was Jamaica’s first Dancehall superstar. He, more than any other artist, is credited with popularizing toasting ? the reggae version of rapping—in Jamaica and around the world. All the contemporary Dancehall superstars, including Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Mavado, owe their fame, at least in part, to Yellowman’s pioneering ingenuity outright bravery. In the 80s, Yellowman was one of Jamaica’s top selling artists; he outsold all Jamaican artists but Bob Marley.

BORN IN TO ABANDONMENT AND RIDICULE; BEATS THE ODDS
Born Winston Foster in 1956 in Negril, Jamaica, he was abandoned as a child because he was an albino, a condition that carried a heavy stigma. Thus, he was raised in an orphanage where he was constantly tormented and made fun of because of his skin condition.
The constant harassment pushed him to the point where he had to take control of his own destiny. He changed his name to Yellowman and took up music. He first started as a deejay and worked for several sound systems. Although he was booed at his first performance, he ultimately won over the crowds. It’s needless to say that no producers were willing to give Yellowman a minute of their time. Yellowman fought back with a campaign aimed at transforming him from an “untouchable” outcast to a sex symbol. He showcased himself at talent shows and won over fans with his energetic stage appeal and lyrics that combined “yellow jokes” about his skin with his purported sexual prowess.

YELLOWMAN’S STAR BEGINS TO RISE
In 1979, Yellowman won the popular Jamaican Tastee Amateur Talent Contest and after his victory, the same producers who wanted nothing to do with him, were all over him. Soon after, his music career took off. He later decided to add conscious lyrics to his songs and in 1982, he appeared at the Reggae Sunsplash Festival. In 1983, he signed a recording deal with CBS Records and in 1984, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for best Reggae album.

YELLOWMAN TAKES ANOTHER BLOW; BEATS THE ODDS, AGAIN.
In 1986, just when his star had began to rise, Yellowman was diagnosed with jaw cancer, resulting in the removal of part of his jawbone. Although doctors gave him 6 months to live, Yellowman beat the odds. Again. As if that were not enough, Yellowman was also diagnosed with skin cancer, which he miraculously recovered from. In spite of all that, two of his albums were Grammy nominated for best reggae album in 1995 and 1997. He continued to sell albums and maintaining one of the busiest tour schedules. Although he has slowed down, Yellowman is still considered one of the best Dancehall performers.
Yellowman will be touring N. America this summer and Kilimanjaro Entertainment is proud to promote his concert in Minneapolis, MN:
Date: Sunday, July 25
Time: 9:00 PM
Cover: $15 advance $17.00 at the door
Where: Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. Minneapolis, MN
TICKETS

YELLOWMAN LIVE IN JAMAICA

Italy kicks out Reggae Sunsplash Festival, Cites Ganja Use

After 16 years as one of the major summer reggae festivals in Europe, Rototom Reggae Sunsplash, has moved from Italy to Spain because the authorities (in Italy) have accused the organisers of promoting the use of marijuana via reggae music and Rasta culture.

“The excuse is that we facilitate the use of ganja because we are promoting reggae music and Rasta culture. So Rasta culture and reggae bring the people to smoke marijuana,” publicist/art director for the Rototom Sunsplash, Sabrina Trovant Sunday Observer in an exclusive interview after the launch of the festival at the Ashanti Restaurant at Hope Garden in Kingston last Tuesday.

However, this, Trovant pointed out, came as a result of a change in the political climate in Italy. “The far-right conservative party won the election in 2008. They are more closed to immigrants … people who are not Italians. So the festival is the symbol of completely the opposite. It is multi-cultural. We promote peace, love and unity between people. No matter your culture, your religion or your tradition, anything. We are one blood,” she explained.

The Rototom Reggae Sunsplash is a big event wherein more than 100,000 people for more than a week with 120 different nationalities in the same place. “In a place where there is no riots, between them, y’know,” Trovant stresses.

“It’s not just a music festival, it’s much more than a music festival. It’s a reggae university. The singers, journalists, producers come to the festival to meet other people to learn about the history of each other. During the days we do meetings, debates, workshops, picture exhibitions,” booking manager Giovanni Vinci explained.

“It has become a meeting point for intellectuals, politicians. We talk about life”, added Trovant about the sponsor-free event. “Our sponsors are the people. The people buy the tickets six months before and we usually sell around three thousands tickets six months before because the people trust us. It’s more a European congregation of the reggae people than simply a festival of stage production. The movement of a community,” she said.

It was the second time the Rototom Sunsplash was launched in Jamaica. Three years ago, it was launched at Strawberry Hill. “On that occasion we brought European journalist to let them learn the culture of Bob Marley. They spent five days here visiting the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong Studio, Nine Miles, etc. This time, we are meeting with the Jamaican press because here everything was born. For a reggae festival, the centre of the world is Jamaica. Without Jamaica there would be no Bob Marley and without Bob Marley there would probably be no reggae in the world. So, for this reason we came here to meet with the Jamaican media and the minister of culture, Ms Olivia Grange,” Vinci said.

“This year we are changing country and language. This idea that who promote reggae is promoting ganja, so to promote reggae is a crime, is totally stupid. Spain is more opened to integration between different culture, more democratic,” declared Vinci.

The Rototom Sunsplash has been taking place every summer at Osoppo, in the province of Udine, Italy. The new location for the 17th edition will be in Spain in the town of Benicassim, situated on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Castellon.

“Spain is certainly a more liberal and welcoming country. The local authority in Spain is very happy that we are there. And also they also have a different attitude towards the festival because they recognise the festival can bring economic results,” Trovant said about the week-long festival slated to run from August 21 to 28.

The line-up so far includes Alpha Blondy, Aswad, Alborosie, Fantan Mojah, Bob Andy, Big Youth, Glen Washington, Anthony B.

By Basil Walters, Jamaica Reporter

Canceled US visas for Sizzla, Beenie, Bounty, Mavado, Aidonia

The recent cancellation of US visas of the abovementioned artistes (except for Sizzla, in whose case the cancellation was not recent, as the visa was revoked in 1998) sent shock waves throughout and outside of the music fraternity, as many wonder who will be the next victim.

At first glance it seems to have been done in an almost callous way and this is surely cause for concern. An email advisory was sent to all the airlines who carry passengers to the US with the instructions not to board the artistes as their visas were in the process of being revoked. The artistes themselves claim they had no knowledge that that such a move was afoot and the US embassy, as expected, has no comment, as this is a matter between them and the individual artiste.

However, is this to be seen as an advisory, pending some investigation on the embassy’s part and at the end of the day a second advisory will be issued to countermand the first?

“The fact is that the artistes, as far as I know still have visas in their passports. The visas have not yet been stamped “canceled without prejudice” or “canceled with prejudice”, so perhaps the US was just being generous by advising the artistes not to travel at this time. We have to examine the wording carefully,” was artiste manager Patrick Robert’s’ take on the situation.

He, however, admitted that he was shocked by last week Wednesday’s announcement that the visas of four of the top dancehall acts were “in the process of being revoked”.

“But any way you look at it, this is bad,” Roberts said. “What is a reggae festival anywhere in the States without Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia and Sizzla? And then there is Buju who is behind bars in the US.”

The artistes had both their work permits and the visitor’s visa revoked and the fact is that most artistes use the US as a hub. Without a visitor’s visa they are now unable to use Miami as a connection port into other parts of the world. Artistes, like it or not, also have entourages and numerous persons to take care of. These artistes are among the top earners and shutting them down will certainly affect more than just them and their immediate families.

As the summer approaches, the next couple of month is usually their busiest periods as they travel to festival all across the US to earn their living. Many are asking why and why now? It is felt that the stand-off between Washington and Kingston is playing a role in this unfolding saga. Interestingly, both Beenie Man and Bounty Killer had a show in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday and their absence, according to informed sources, was a big blow to the promoter. It was to be the first time that the two would have performed on the same stage in Orlando.

According to Roberts, in all his 17 years of managing Beenie Man, he has never had a visa issue with the US government. “We have always had our work permits renewed without any problems,” he emphasized.

And, as the artistes grapple with the way forward, Beenie Man has already released a visa song which will no doubt strike a responsive chord with all and sundry.

Monday Musings
with Yasmin
Jamaica Observer

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