Pato Banton (born Patrick Murray; 5 October 1961) is a
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
singer and
toaster
A toaster is a small electric appliance that uses radiant heat to brown sliced bread into toast.
Types
Pop-up toaster
In pop-up or automatic toasters, a single vertical piece of bread is dropped into a slot on the top of the toaster. ...
from
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
, England. He received the nickname "Pato Banton" from his stepfather; his first name derives from the sound of a
Jamaican owl
The Jamaican owl (''Asio grammicus'') is a medium-sized owl that is endemic to the island of Jamaica.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Jamaican owl was previously considered the only member of the genus ''Pseudoscops'', but phylogenetic analysis ...
calling "patoo, patoo", while his last name comes from the
disc jockey
A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include Radio personality, radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music f ...
slang word "Banton", meaning heavyweight lyricist or storyteller. In 1994, he achieved a
number 1 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
with a
cover
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of co ...
of
The Equals
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'
Baby Come Back featuring
Robin and
Ali Campbell
Alistair Ian Campbell (born 15 February 1959) is an English singer and songwriter who was lead singer of the British reggae band UB40. As part of UB40, Campbell sold over 70 million records worldwide and toured the globe for 30 years. In 2008, C ...
of
UB40
UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. They have been nominated for the ...
.
Biography
Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with
The Beat.
[Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.'', ]Rough Guides
Rough Guides Ltd is a British travel guide book and reference publisher, which has been owned by APA Publications since November 2017. In addition to publishing guidebooks, the company also provides a tailor-made trips service based on customer ...
, , p.403 He recorded "Pato and Roger a Go Talk" with
Ranking Roger
Roger Charlery (21 February 1963 – 26 March 2019), known professionally as Ranking Roger,Strong, Martin C. (2002) ''The Great Rock Discography, 6th Edition'', Canongate, , p. 72Huey, Steve "Ranking Roger Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 17 Februa ...
, included on the 1982 album ''
Special Beat Service
''Special Beat Service'' is the third studio album by British ska band the Beat, released on 1 October 1982 by Go-Feet Records. Like the rest of their material, it was released in the US under the name "the English Beat". It peaked at No. 39 on t ...
''.
[Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p.19-20] He went on to record a series of singles for
Fashion Records
Fashion Records is a UK-based record label, publishing reggae music.
Founded in summer 1980, Fashion Records is one of the more successful UK-based reggae labels, and one of only a few British reggae labels to release records that were produ ...
and Don Christie Records.
He was one of the guest artists that appeared on the
UB40
UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. They have been nominated for the ...
album ''
Baggariddim
''Baggariddim'', not to be confused with the EP ''Little Baggariddim'' released in the US, is the sixth album by UB40, released in 1985. Most of the tracks are reworkings of previous UB40 recordings that originally appeared on ''Labour of Love' ...
'' in 1985. Banton's debut album was the 1985,
Mad Professor
Mad Professor (born Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser, 1955, Georgetown, Guyana) is a Guyanese-born British dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music ...
-produced ''Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton'', followed in 1987 by ''
Never Give In'', which included a collaboration with
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949) is a Canadian singer, composer, actor, author, comedian, and multi-instrumentalist who served as David Letterman's musical director, band leader, and sidekick on the entire run of both '' Late ...
and a follow-up to his earlier collaboration with
Ranking Roger
Roger Charlery (21 February 1963 – 26 March 2019), known professionally as Ranking Roger,Strong, Martin C. (2002) ''The Great Rock Discography, 6th Edition'', Canongate, , p. 72Huey, Steve "Ranking Roger Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 17 Februa ...
with "Pato and Roger Come Again".
[Moskowitz, David V. (2006), ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , pp. 21-22.] 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
Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively created or produced ...
hit in ''
Spirits in the Material World
"Spirits in the Material World" is a song by rock trio the Police, written by Sting. It is the opening track for their 1981 album ''Ghost in the Machine''. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached No. 12 in the United Kingdom[The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police ...]
cover) and another collaboration, "Wize Up!", this time with
David Hinds
David Hinds (born 15 June 1956) is a British musician and the founding member, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist for the reggae band Steel Pulse.
Life and career
Hinds was born in Handsworth, West Midlands, Handsworth, Birmingham, England, to ...
of
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse are a roots reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ron ...
.
Banton then worked on a live album 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 one hit with "
Baby Come Back" (originally by
Eddy Grant
Edmond Montague Grant (born 5 March 1948) is a Guyanese-British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known for his genre-blending sound; his music has blended elements of pop, British rock, soul, funk, reggae, electronic music, Afr ...
performing with
The Equals
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
) with
Robin and
Ali Campbell
Alistair Ian Campbell (born 15 February 1959) is an English singer and songwriter who was lead singer of the British reggae band UB40. As part of UB40, Campbell sold over 70 million records worldwide and toured the globe for 30 years. In 2008, C ...
of UB40,
a best-of album was released, and Banton was invited by
Sting
Sting may refer to:
* Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger
* Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself
Fictional characters and entities
* Sting (Middle-eart ...
to join him on his "This Cowboy Song" single.
His collaboration with Reggae Revolution on a reinterpolation of
the Young Rascals
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
single "
Groovin'
"Groovin" is a single released in 1967 by American rock band the Young Rascals that became a number-one hit and one of the group's signature songs. It has been covered by many artists, including the Young Rascals themselves in other languages. ...
" reached number 14 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
in July and became a major hit in New Zealand, reaching number four on the
RIANZ Singles Chart
Recorded Music NZ (formerly the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ)) is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell recorded music in New Zealand. Membership of Recorded Mus ...
and staying in the top 20 for nine weeks. It was the country's 47th best-selling single of the year, received a
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...
sales certification for selling over 5,000 copies, and was featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 film
Kazaam
''Kazaam'' () is a 1996 fantasy comedy family film. It was directed by Paul Michael Glaser, written by Christian Ford and Roger Soffer based on a story by Glaser, and starring Shaquille O'Neal as the title character, a 5,000-year-old genie who ...
and 1998 hit
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
remake ''
The Parent Trap''.
1996's ''Stay Positive,'' credited to Pato Banton & The Reggae Revolution, 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.
Discography
* ''Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton'' (1985)
* ''
Never Give In'' (1987)
* ''Visions of the World'' (1989)
* ''Mad Professor Recaptures Pato Banton'' (1990)
* ''Wize Up! (No Compromize)'' (1990)
* ''Live & Kickin All Over America'' (1991)
* ''Universal Love'' (1992)
* ''Collections'' (1994)
* ''Stay Positive'' (1996)
* ''Time Come'' (1999)
* ''Tudo De Bom - Live in Brazil'' (2000)
* ''Life Is a Miracle'' (2000)
* ''Live at the Maritime - San Francisco'' (2001)
* ''The Best of Pato Banton'' (2002)
* ''Positive Vibrations'' (2007)
* ''Pato Banton and Friends'' (2008)
* ''Destination Paradise'' (2008)
Filmography
* ''
Lycanthropy
In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely or ...
'' (2006)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banton, Pato
1961 births
British reggae singers
Living people
21st-century Black British male singers
Musicians from Birmingham, West Midlands
20th-century Black British male singers
English people of Jamaican descent
Greensleeves Records artists