This is the 11th in our daily series highlighting 55 Jamaicans who broke down barriers and helped put the country on the world stage. Each day, one personality will be featured, culminating Independence Day, August 6.

From children’s homes to dancehall royalty, Yellowman is truly a Jamaican success story.

Before he came to prominence in the 1979 Tastee Talent Contest, the albino was scorned in Jamaica.

But Yellowman wore his pigmentation like a badge of honour, boasting about his ‘yellow baby’ in songs like I’m Getting Married In The Morning, and styling in gold track suits.

Born Winston Foster, Yellowman was abandoned by his parents as an infant and spent his formative years in children’s homes in Kingston and St Mary.

He finished third (to Nadine Sutherland and Paul Blake ) in the Tastee Talent Contest and never looked back. Being an albino made him a dancehall novelty and a favourite in the sound system arena.

In the early 1980s, Yellowman became the flagship artiste for producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes’ Volcano label.

Lawes’ links with the fledgling Greensleeves record label in the United Kingdom made him a star there and helped pave the way for him signing with Columbia Records.

Yellowman remains one of dancehall/reggae’s best touring acts. With the Sagitarius Band, he became a dancehall forerunner in Latin America and the Middle East.

Most importantly, Yellowman is a trailblazer.

As a social force, he opened new doors for the ostracised albino. Other artistes such as Mellow Yellow and Purple Man followed, but never made the impact of Yellowman.

Then again, not many have.