Chico

Born as Patrick Walker on 5 October 1974 in Pembroke Hall, Jamaica, West Indies, the future artist grew up in a Christian household as the third of five children and the only son. He eventually settled in Kingston’s Waterhouse district, where he entered the surrounding music community. Even while absorbed by those sounds he finished his studies with plans to work as an accountant. His Chinese features prompted schoolmates to call him Patrico, a name later shortened to form his stage identity. Church singing helped shape his voice, and congregation members encouraged him to make music his livelihood. In 1993 he cut his first release, a cover of Tevin Campbell’s “Why Oh Why,” under producer King Jammy. Although the track succeeded, Chico kept a job at a tyre company until his career steadied. Free time found the young vocalist at Danny Browne’s Main Street studio trading bars with Buccaneer, General Degree, Goofy, Hawkeye, Red Rat, Lady G and Crissy D. He teamed with several of them, including Red Rat on “Girls Dem Highway” and Goofy on “Nah Stoop,” while scoring solo successes with “Stamina Body” and “Mek Noise.” In 1999 his standing strengthened after joining T.O.K. for “Pavarotti”/“Grab It Up.” He then entered Dave ‘Rude Boy’ Kelly’s Mad House circle, appearing alongside Baby Cham, Mr. Easy, Frisco Kid and Wayne Wonder. Further tracks that year included “No Evidence,” “Hard,” “Nuh Worry Den” and, with Harry Toddler, “Nah Stop Walk Street.”