ZION LION REGGAE BAND

PRESTON MOORE - DRUMS, ARRANGER, FOUNDING MEMBER

email:   fadapreston@zionlionreggaeband.com

Preston has been performing for over 20 years in the areas of drums, bass, lead guitar, and keyboards.  After a long and painful recovery from a paralyzing back injury, and relocating from Chicago to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1996, Preston began the slow process of putting his life and music back together.  Two years later, he acquired a position with the Kalamazoo based reggae band the Jah Kings.  Today, while still battling old injuries with new energy he writes and produces music for his own gratification.  Starting his home studio and production label, Preston has joined new forces with other local greats and future icons, with hopes of preserving and respecting the original greats before us.

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"SISTA" MYRA D. ATKINSON - LEAD VOCAL, STEEL PAN, KEYBOARDS, WRITER

email:  sistamyra@zionlionreggaeband.com 

Myra has been performing for over 25 years.  Her musical career started out with some brief piano lessons, then later on the clarinet during school years.  She convinced her father to buy her a guitar and learned to play it on her own.  After moving to Kalamazoo, she sang at local pubs and private affairs, and later started a female band.  Shortly after, she joined up with another friend and the 2 of them switched up on bass and rhythm guitars which turned out to be a nice little duo.  All the while, she became an avid listener of reggae music. Years later she stumbled across a local band "Yoroka" and joined.  She has traveled to Jamaica numerous times and soaked up the talent that abounds.  She has been influenced by artist like, Joan Armatrading, Roberta Flack, carole King, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Luciano, Calypso Rose, Celia Cruz, Susana Baaca, and of course Mama Africa, Mariam Makeba.

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 John Foster - Lead and Rhythm Guitar 

John is no stranger to the music scene.  He holds a music degrees from Western Michigan University.  He has written several compositions to his credit. He has a signature trademark on slide guitar.   John has played with Seventh Son, Yoroka, and several other band in the Kalamazoo area.  

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WEBSTER JOHN-BAPTISTE - BASS GUITAR

Webster is an accomplished bass guitarist from the Island of St. Lucia.  He decided to learn the bass guitar as a way to make a living.  He was given the instrument as a gift. He started by teaching himself to master this instrument.  Webster later auditioned for a job on a cruise line and was hired and the rest is history.  

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WILLIE PHIPPS - KEYBOARD

Our recent addition to the band has so much talent it's unbealievable!  Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Willie has come to Kalamazoo and has played with many local artists.  He has played with The Skeletones, Jah Kings, WVPE & GB Co, and many more. 

ASSANE DIA - DJEMBE

Assane hails from Dakar, Senegal.  He landed his way into the band by happenstance.  He came along with a mutual friend to rehearsal one night and was just hooked and determined that he wanted to be apart of the Zion Lion experience.  Since his joining the band, he has added the hype and his djembe to the flavor of the band.  He is a music apprentice who has been influenced by Baaba Maal, Youssif N'dor, Papa Wenbe', Burning Spear

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 Joel Finley-Pink - Keyboard and Bass Guitar  

Joel brings his talent to Zion Lion and adds so much flavor.  He is a recent graduate from Western Michigan University in Musical Broadcasting.  He has a lot of knowledge on musical production .

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOTLEY CAT STUDIOS - GRAND RAPIDS, MI

SUSAN PARK  - FENVILLE, MI

DENNIS MCCURINE

FRIENDS:

JEFF & AMY WIEDLAND

SELECTOR JONATHON BRADLEY