Pato Banton | |
---|---|
Patrick Murray | |
Born |
Birmingham, England | 5 October 1961
Origin | Birmingham, England |
Genres | Reggae |
Musician | |
Instruments | Vocals |
1980s-present | |
Labels | Fashion, Ariwa, IRS |
Website |
www |
Pato Banton (born Patrick Murray; 5 October 1961) is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname "Pato Banton" from his stepfather; The first name derives from a Jamaican night owl that stays up all night calling "patoo, patoo" and the last name from the disc jockey slang word "Banton" which means heavyweight lyricist or storyteller.[1][2]
Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The Beat.[3] He recorded "Pato and Roger a Go Talk" with Ranking Roger, included on the 1982 album Special Beat Service.[4] He went on to record a series of singles for Fashion Records and Don Christie Records.[4] He was one of the guest artists that appeared on the UB40 album Baggariddim in 1985. Banton's debut album was the 1985, Mad Professor-produced Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton, followed in 1987 by Never Give In, which included a collaboration with Paul Shaffer and a follow-up to his earlier collaboration with ranking Roger with "Pato and Roger Come Again".[5] After an EP in 1988, Banton released a more pop-oriented LP, Visions of the World, followed by 1990's Wize Up! (No Compromise), which included a college radio hit in Spirits in the Material World (The Police cover) and another collaboration, "Wize Up!", this time with David Hinds of Steel Pulse.[4]
Banton then worked on a live album and with Mad Professor, and then released 1992's Universal Love. The album featured a song covered by Banton called "United We Stand", which was written by fellow Birmingham musician Ray Watts, of the group Beshara. After a 1994 British Number 1 hit in Baby Come Back (originally by Eddy Grant performing with The Equals), with Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40,[4] a best-of album was released, and Banton was invited by Sting to join him on his "This Cowboy Song" single.[5] 1996's Stay Positive was followed by Life Is a Miracle in 2000. Life Is a Miracle received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in the 2001 Grammy Awards.[6]