Born
and raised in Birmingham, England (where he still resides), Pato was introduced
to music as an MC in his stepfather's traveling reggae disco sound-system act
called V-Rocket. At a very young age, he was already mixing records and
"toasting" fast Jamaican rapping to a heavy beat. While establishing a
strong local following and reputation, he caught the ear of the English
Beat's Ranking Roger, who took young Pato under his wing and pushed him into
becoming a musical performer in his own right and expanding his sights beyond
Birmingham. It paid off.
With the release of his first two albums entitled
"Never Give In" and "Vision Of The World,"
respectively, Pato's status began to blossom around the world. Two subsequent
studio records ("Universal Love" and "Wize Up")
combined with constant touring firmly entrenched him as a musical force to be
reckoned with. Although Pato has always had major success in the United States
(album sales and touring), he has become a bona fide megastar in Europe and
South America, selling over 3,000,000 albums and headlining stadium tours. The
1996 release of Banton's fifth studio album, "Stay Positive"
spurred the Top 5 UK single, "Groovin'."
Life Is A Miracle, released 2002,
is the culmination of a 4-year writing and recording process that will surely
take Pato Banton to the next level in the United States and abroad. The new
songs blend reggae, hip-hop, and dance, creating a sound that is truly unique to
Pato Banton. From clubs to stadiums (and every point in between), Pato will
continue to win over fans by the thousands and prove that the U.S. is ready to
even more fully embrace this international superstar.