Summer 2026

attendees, and he and Sarzo forged a friendship rooted in their mutual passion for philanthropy. Sarzo casually tossed out the notion of forming a band to benefit various charities before the two went their separate ways. Later, while playing a gig in Scottsdale, Arizona, Carter came to Sarzo’s show. “He had BANC completely thought out, sketched on a napkin,” Sarzo recalls. “I said I want to do this and raise $10 million for charity,” Carter recalls.“Ten years later, we’ve done just that. And more.” Given the participating musicians’ busy schedules, it took some time to organize BANC. The six shows of 2026 comprised the fourth annual BANC tour, and the first to include a stop at Carmel’s Mission Ranch, where they performed in March (following shows in Calgary, Vancouver and at rocker 186 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 6 Photos: Kelli Uldall (From left) Jim Carter, Laura Donohue, Rhonda Funk, Mark Clarke and Phil Carter at Carmel’s Mission Ranch in March 2026. Funk is a Nashville singer/songwriter. Englishman Clarke has performed with seminal bands Uriah Heep and Colosseum. Keyboardist/vocalist Ellis Hall was mentored by Ray Charles. Bassist Christopher Donohue has performed with Dave Mathews, EmmyLou Harris and Tom Jones.