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Banton is back on the mic

January 25, 2007 12:50 am

By JONAS BEALS

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

You've likely never heard of reggae artist Pato Banton, who will play The Loft in Fredericksburg on Sunday, so is it fair to call him a legend? The short answer is yes.

The long answer requires a better understanding of a modest man who has achieved remarkable success on and off the stage.

Born and raised on the mean streets of Birmingham, England, Pato (a nickname given by his father that means "wise owl" in Jamaican patois) worked as a local singer, toaster and radio DJ, securing a place in the booming U.K. reggae scene.

He cut sides with The English Beat, UB40 and Steel Pulse, and found solo success thanks to high-energy live shows, positive spirituality and a silky, lilting voice that could rock roots as easily as it could slide into an R&B croon. Collaborations with such pop heavies as Sting and Paul Shaffer didn't hurt, either.

Banton released the album "Life is a Miracle" in 2000 (it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Reggae Album the next year), and he seemed well on his way to achieving the international success of his Birmingham reggae brothers when tragedy struck.

That same year, Banton lost his son to a drive-by bullet. Stunned and longing for change, he packed up his music and started his second life as a teacher.

"I just said a prayer and meditated, and I got this thing in my mind that it's time to do something in my own community," he said. "I wasn't sure how it was all going to turn out, but it all just fell into place like a jigsaw puzzle."

From kindergarten classrooms to college campuses, Banton used the power of music to change children's lives for the better. He developed music curricula, taught students how to sing and even built studios in Birmingham's high schools and colleges.

"It gave kids a sense of purpose," he said of his work. "It kept them in school because they had something to look forward to. The results have been awesome."

Banton's work in education continues today and has been nothing short of miraculous for countless underprivileged children. He now presides over two foundations, and his resume includes charity work with fellow Englishmen David Bowie and Peter Gabriel.

Today, Banton is back on the mic. "Taking a hiatus from the music industry has given me a fresh outlook on myself and on the music that I make," he said. "I feel rejuvenated, like I'm starting my career all over again, but with the wisdom I have from the past."

Banton doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk--the sign of a true legend, indeed.