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Pato Banton

Pato Banton
Banton in 2015
Banton in 2015
Background information
Birth namePatrick Murray
Born (1961-01-28) 28 January 1961 (age 64)
Brixton, London, England
OriginBirmingham, England
GenresReggae
InstrumentVocals
Years active1980s–present
LabelsFashion, Ariwa, IRS
Websitewww.officialpatobanton.com

Pato Banton (born Patrick Murray; 28 January 1961) is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England.[1] 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.[2][3] 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.

Biography

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Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The Beat.[4] He recorded "Pato and Roger a Go Talk" with Ranking Roger, included on the 1982 album Special Beat Service.[5] He went on to record a series of singles for Fashion Records and Don Christie Records.[5] He was one of the guest artists that appeared on the UB40 album Baggariddim in 1985. His debut single "Hello Tosh" featured a parody on a well-know jingle.[6][1] 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".[7] 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.[5]

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,[5] a best-of album was released, and Banton was invited by Sting to join him on his "This Cowboy Song" single.[7] 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.[8][9] It was the country's 47th best-selling single of the year,[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

Discography

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Singles with UK Singles Charts positions [13] Baby Come Back #1 (1994) This Cowboy Song #15 (1995) * Sting (feat Pato Banton)[14] Bubblin' Hot #15 (1995) Spirits in the Material World #36 (1996) Groovin' #14 (1996)

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b Steffens, Roger (December 1986). "World Beat - Pato Banton and Tippa Irie Inna Deejay Style". SPIN. 2 (9): 18 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  3. ^ "About". Patobanton.com. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  4. ^ Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p.403
  5. ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p.19-20
  6. ^ Greene, Jo-Ann, Hello Tosh - Pato Banton | AllMusic, retrieved 25 October 2024
  7. ^ a b 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.
  8. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 21 July 1996 – 27 July 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Pato Banton & The Reggae Revolution – Groovin' (song)". charts.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  10. ^ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Official Top 40 Singles – 6 October 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  12. ^ "CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". CNN. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Pato Banton". Official Charts.
  14. ^ "This Cowboy Song". Official Charts.
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