Carlton Pride and Mighty Zion

CARLTON PRIDE is the son of country music legend CHARLEY PRIDE. Carlton started his career in the music industry as a recording engineer and sound tech for his father and various other artists. In 1995, Carlton left from Dallas, TX to San Marcos to start his first reggae project: ONE. In 1996, the band changed their name to ZION, started playing the local circuit, and headlined the BOB MARLEY festival nationwide from 1996-2003 and continued to tour the U.S. In 2000, the band traveled to Jamaica to record the 'What You Need' album with RUFF STUFF RECORDS at Bob Marley's Studio in Kingston. The album was produced by CLIVE HUNT (Alpha Blondy, Peter Tosh, Culture) and featured Marley's horn section, along with appearances from the bands of BUNNY WAILER, CULTURE, BURNING SPEAR, and ALPHA BLONDY. The most impressive guest appearance was Carlton's father doing a father/son reggae duet of Charley's hit single: KISS AN ANGEL GOOD MORNING. In October, 2006 the band revamped to include long time bass counterpart ZEKE BENENATE, JOHNNY RADELAT on percussion, keyboardist BRYAN FELTNER, NOEL VICKERS on saxophone, and DAVID "RUDEBOY" BOWMAN on the trombone. While the band calls San Marcos home, they continue to travel throughout the United States to deliver their sound!

Mighty Zion is on course to play over 80 shows by year's end including a headling spot at BRICKTOWN REGGAE FESTIVAL in Oklahoma City, and for the first time ever, Charley Pride joined MIGHTY ZION onstage at the AUSTIN RODEO. Perhaps the most exciting news of 2010: Carlton was signed by EFM Records (Motley Crue, Peter Chriss, Ace Frehley, No Doubt).