Pato Banton
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: its first name derives from the sound of a Jamaican owl calling "patoo, patoo", while its second comes from the disc jockey slang word "banton", meaning heavyweight lyricist or storyteller.[1][2] In 1994, he achieved a number 1 on the UK Singles Chart with a cover of The Equals' Baby Come Back featuring Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40.
Pato Banton | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Patrick Murray |
Born | Brixton, London, England | 5 October 1961
Origin | Birmingham, England |
Genres | Reggae |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1980s–present |
Labels | Fashion, Ariwa, IRS |
Website | www |
Biography
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 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 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] His collaboration with Reggae Revolution on a reinterpolation of the Young Rascals single "Groovin'" reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart in July and became a major hit in New Zealand, reaching number four on the RIANZ Singles Chart and staying in the top 20 for nine weeks.[6][7] It was the country's 47th best-selling single of the year,[8] received a Gold sales certification for selling over 5,000 copies, and was featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 film Kazaam and 1998 hit Disney remake The Parent Trap.[9] 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.[10]
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 (2006)
References
- "About". Patobanton.com. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p.403
- Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p.19-20
- Moskowitz, David V. (2006), Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, pp. 21-22.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100 21 July 1996 – 27 July 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- "Pato Banton & The Reggae Revolution – Groovin' (song)". charts.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- "Official Top 40 Singles – 6 October 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- "CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". CNN. Retrieved 14 January 2019.