Background
Fathead was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and was already an established deejay when he began working with Yellowman, during the peak of the latter"s popularity between 1980 and 1982.
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Career
Fathead (born Vernon Rainford, c1960 – 19 October 1988) was a dancehall deejay best known for his collaborations with Yellowman in the early 1980s. The pair performed regularly at the Aces Disco in Saint Thomas, and recorded a live album there (the first ever live dancehall album), Live at Aces, which was sufficiently successful for studio follow-ups Bad Boy Skanking and Foreign Your Eyes Only (both 1982). With Yellowman concentrating on solo material, Fathead went on to work with others, having a hit in 1983 with "lieutenant"s Maine", and collaborating with Beenie Manitoba, Early B, Johnny Ringo, and Ranking Toyan.
Yellowman and Fathead were reunited in 1984 for the Showdown volunteer
5 album, split between the duo and Purpleman. Rainford was murdered in Florida, United States on 22 December 1988, dying from a gunshot wound.
During an interview with Winston Foster (Yellowman) carried out by Steve Day in Brighton, England on 4 November 2009, Yellowman confirmed that Fathead (Vernon Rainford) was actively involved in the Miami drug trade. lieutenant was this involvement that would lead to his death.
