Burro Banton — The Original Banton
Introduction:
Born Donovan Spalding on 27 December 1956 in Kingston, Jamaica, Burro Banton is one of the most influential figures in the history of Jamaican dancehall — not just for his own music, but for the enormous shadow he cast over the artists who followed him. Known for his deep, gruff voice, aggressive deejay style and raw lyrical power, Burro Banton was the direct inspiration for three of the biggest names in dancehall history — Buju Banton, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man all cite him as a formative influence. Buju Banton admired him so much as a child that he adopted the name "Banton" in his honour.
Early Career & Sound System Roots:
Burro Banton's career began in 1976 when he entered a talent contest at the Skateland discothèque in Kingston. His early musical influences included the deejay legends Ranking Joe, Dillinger, Trinity, U Brown and Ranking Trevor — the great toasters of Jamaica's first golden era. By 1978 he was working with the Black Hoover sound system, before moving to Roots Unlimited where he performed alongside Josey Wales. He established his public reputation in 1982 as a DJ for the Gemini sound system, building a following through the raw energy of his performances.
His fame rose dramatically after his lyrics caused the legendary Killamanjaro sound system to defeat the Volcano sound in a celebrated sound clash in 1984 — a moment that cemented his reputation as one of the most dangerous voices in the business.
Burro Banton The Best Of - Album Track Listing:
- 01 Chinchilla Choons Intro ( Elephantman ) .mp3
- 02 Boom Wah Dis - Burro Banton .mp3
- 03 Washington Session - Burro Banton .mp3
- 04 Westmorland Sensi - Burro Banton .mp3
- 05 Ya Dun No - Burro Banton .mp3
- 06 No Problem - Burro Banton .mp3
- 07 Tek a Set - Burro Banton .mp3
- 08 Bible Again - Burro Banton .mp3
- 09 Gangster Paradise - Burro Banton .mp3
- 10 Garrison - Burro Bantan .mp3
- 11 Lyrics Daddy - Burro Banton .mp3
- 12 Chinchilla Choons Skit ( Tony Curtis ) .mp3
- 13 Blaze It - Burro Banton Ft Tony Curtis .mp3
- 14 Love Me Sensimilia - Burro Banton .mp3
- 15 Run Come - Burro Banton .mp3
- 16 Africans - Burro Banton .mp3
- 17 Jah Jah Rule - Burro Banton.mp3
- 18 Pick Di Plum - Burro Banton.mp3
- 19 One for the Money - Burro Banton.mp3
- 20 Truth & Rights - Burro Banton Ft Johnny Osbourne.mp3
- 21 Chinchilla Choons ( Skit ) .The Best Of.mp3
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Dancehall Dominance:
Burro emerged at the beginning of the digital dancehall revolution started by King Jammy in the mid-1980s — the era that transformed Jamaican music and gave birth to the modern dancehall sound. His first recordings were produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes, and his debut LP Buro followed in 1983. His anthem "Boom Wah Dis" — recorded on Steely & Clevie's "Street Sweeper" riddim — became one of the defining tracks of the era and has been recorded and versioned many times since. His 1987 single "Praise Up Jah Jah" became hugely popular in the UK conscious roots reggae scene, regularly played by the legendary Jah Shaka on dubplate.
Working with Super Cat on the Wild Apache label, Burro scored his first number one hit with "Boom Wah Dis", and subsequent hits including "Washington Session", "Tek a Set" and "Westmoreland Sensi" on the Massive B label established him as one of the 1990s most consistent and respected performers.
Legacy — The Father of the Bantons:
Burro Banton's legacy lives most powerfully in the artists he inspired. Buju Banton — who has spoken publicly and repeatedly about his admiration — took the name "Banton" entirely as a tribute. Bounty Killer and Elephant Man have also acknowledged his influence on their styles. In a genre where vocal aggression and lyrical authority define greatness, Burro Banton set a standard that an entire generation of artists measured themselves against.
Key Releases:
- Buro (1983) — debut LP
- Praise Up Jah Jah (1987) — UK conscious reggae hit
- Boom Wah Dis — signature anthem
- The Original Banton (1995) — second LP on Massive B
Burro Banton on Reggae On A Stick: 
Burro Banton is one of the featured artists on our Reggae On A Stick USB — 100 of the greatest reggae albums compiled onto a single plug-and-play USB drive. Hear the man who inspired a generation of dancehall legends alongside 99 other icons of Jamaican music.
👉 Shop Reggae On A Stick — 100 Reggae Albums On 1 USB