George Banton

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, Banton began singing in church choirs during his formative period and soon advanced to solo appearances in numerous congregations across the island. In the early 1970s he became a member of the Jamaican gospel ensemble the Gospel Light Band. After the group divided into the Insight Gospel Group and the Grace Thrillers, he stayed connected to both while taking the lead vocal role with the Grace Thrillers. That ensemble attained wide recognition in Jamaica through such classic recordings as ‘Can’t Even Walk’, ‘How Strong God’s Love Is’, ‘I Will Be With You’ and Banton’s own ‘Too Late Shall Be Your Cry’. By 1977 he had exited the Grace Thrillers and assembled six vocalists under the name the Bantons, yet the undertaking ended quickly. Proceeding undeterred into a solo path, he attained his first number-one record in his adopted Canadian home with the R&B interpretation ‘Faithful And True’. The track’s momentum produced his 1981 debut album If You Don’t Love Me, Leave Me Alone, which the reggae community regarded as ‘big people music’. His relaxed delivery proved commercially viable, securing a second Canadian chart-topper via a cover of ‘How Could I Let You Get Away’. Throughout the 1980s he issued further successes including ‘Honey I Will’, ‘Burning Fire’ and the medley ‘Don’t Lie To Me’. In 1985 You’re All I Need appeared in North America, followed twelve years later by its European release through Jet Star. The subsequent year brought added distinction when ‘No One Can Love Me Like You Do’ received a Juno Award nomination in Canada. By the late 1990s the vocalist, now returned to gospel repertoire, experienced renewed attention from ragga listeners previously unacquainted with his work yet drawn to the Banton phenomenon.