Carl Brown February 23, 2008

This sweet-voiced vocalist has had his greatest success singing with Solid Gold International, the reggae band he formed in 1988 with friends from Jamaica. Carl knew from age 9, that his stage prowess would take him from his humble roots in Spanish Town, St. Catherine to the World's stage. Carl Brown's showmanship and vocals are unmatched, a gift that has earned him a record 17 consecutive years Best Male Vocalist at the Reggae Awards. As a political refugee, who left his homeland 19 years ago when suppression overcame Ethiopia, Zeleke traveled to the United States with his fellow musicians and brothers to pursue his college education and music. Zeleke and his band Dallol, toured the world with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers starting in 1984. Zeleke returned to Chicago, to concentrate on his own music, releasing his first CD in 1995. Zeleke has shown the world that his connection to African and Ethiopian rhythms with Jamaican Reggae can blend into a global world beat sound that has universal appeal.