Entertainment
Reggae Artist Pato Banton has Been a Leading Legend in the Genre for Decades
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap radius”]P[/dropcap]ato Banton is an internationally renowned reggae star, known for infectious melodies, lyrics overflowing with wisdom and energetic live shows. His contributions to reggae music, began in the 1980s and have cemented his rightful place in the top tier of the genre. The only thing more intense than his work ethic, is his sincere compassion for his fellow human beings. Pato’s mission is not to achieve fame and fortune, but rather, to enhance the lives of his fans, not only through music, but also through one-on-one interaction. He opens his home for spiritual counseling and fellowship, even giving out his personal phone number to keep in close contact with fans worldwide. He is also extremely passionate and vocal about the cannabis plant and its many benefits. CULTURE was recently blessed to spend an afternoon speaking with this extraordinary person, and we are excited to share the experience with you.
What message do you want your fans to receive from your music?
I think the most important message for me right now is to encourage my fans to recognize themselves as sons and daughters of God and to be the best they can be in this lifetime.
You are an inspiration to people across the world. Who inspires you?
What inspires me is my love for truth. My love of God keeps me focused on living a good life, a right life and doing the right thing. People inspire me to serve. I have a lot of people who stay in touch, many of my fans have my phone number. Being in touch with so many different people, and understanding that different people have different needs . . . To me the greatest thing you can do in this world, is to inspire people to be happier.
You’ve been in the music industry for quite awhile. What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
One of the best times of my career was having the opportunity to go in the studio with Sting. I recorded two songs and two videos with Sting. I was number one on the British charts for four weeks straight after recording a song with UB40. I was entered into the British Hall of Fame. The BBC in the UK gave me a lifetime achievement award for my dedication to reducing crime in my city.
What are your personal thoughts on cannabis?
When I look at cannabis, I see it as a natural herb. I’ve never in my entire life had the viewpoint that cannabis is a drug, or a criminal substance. In the history of mankind, cannabis has been considered one of the most beneficial plants on the planet. Not just for ingestion, but also for its uses for fiber and for oil. There’s such a long list of uses for this beautiful plant. I think the real criminals are the ones who made cannabis into a criminal substance, and I know that this was brought on by the pharmaceutical industry. Cannabis should be totally decriminalized, and should be allowed to be grown by anybody, anywhere in the world for whatever they want to do with this plant. And there should be no compromise in that way of thinking.
What do you have coming up in the future?
We are going to do a Northwest tour, from Los Angeles up to Seattle in the last two weeks of November. I will also be speaking at the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. They’ve invited me to speak there on the 18th of November.
Anything else you would like to say to CULTURE readers?
I would like to say to the readers, just stay positive. Life is a struggle, but never give in, just stay positive. Don’t just exist, find a purpose, find a cause you believe in and support that cause. Live a life of purpose.
