Pato Banton (born Patrick Murray) is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He began recording in 1982, appearing on "Pato and Roger a Go Talk" (from Special Beat Service) with Ranking Roger of The Beat. He was one of the guest artists that appeared on the UB40 album Baggariddim in 1985. His solo debut was 1987's Never Give In, which included a collaboration with Paul Shaffer. 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.
Banton then worked on a live album and with Mad Professor, and then released 1992's Universal Love. After a 1994 British #1 hit in Baby Come Back (originally by Eddy Grant performing with The Equals), with Robin and Ali Campbell of UB40, a best-of album was released. 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 2001 blank">CNN.com - Entertainment - 43rd Grammy Awards - February 21, 2001 . Recently, Banton has been playing with Mystic Roots, a reggae band formed in _Chico, California.
