Stephanie Taylor
Hammered Dulcimer
Irish Whistle
Byron Dumas
Fiddle
Guitar
Melanie Beck
Fiddle
David Magers
Guitar
Hammered Dulcimer
Red River Breeze plays a mixture of traditional folk music, primarily Celtic, Renaissance and Old-Time American. The music is all instrumental and is usually played acoustically (no amplification) which allows the group's sound to be pleasant to listen to and very melodic.
Red River Breeze was created around 1999 when Stephanie Taylor began playing Celtic music on recorders and penny whistle with guitar accompaniment in local restaurants and coffee shops in Clarksville, TN - a dream she had had for many years. When Stephanie "discovered" the hammered dulcimer in 2004, the instrument quickly became her primary interest and so she began asking her daughter, Sarah Clark, to join the group on penny whistle and recorder. Sarah, as a good daughter should, finally agreed! As fate would have it, the band grew quickly after this with Byron Dumas joining on fiddle, Steve Jones on upright bass and followed in rapid order with Dixie Jones on guitar, David Elder on mandolin, Melanie Beck on fiddle, and last but not least, David Magers on guitar and occasionally (when Stephanie lets him...), on hammered dulcimer. Currently, Red River Breeze is made up of Stephanie, Byron, Melanie and David Magers.
Red River Breeze's first album, "Friday Night Favorites", was recorded in May 2006 with Stephanie Taylor, Sarah Clark, Byron Dumas, David Elder, Steve Jones and Dixie Dixie. The band's second album, "Morgan's Song", was recorded in October 2009 with Stephanie Taylor, Sarah Clark, Byron Dumas, Melanie Beck, David Elder, Dixie Jones, David Magers and Steve Jones. The band's third album, "The Wren at the Window" was recorded in October 2011 with Stephanie Taylor, Melanie Beck, Byron Dumas, David Magers, and guest artiest, Graham Burris. "Morgan's Song" is available for purchase and "The Wren at the Window" will be available for purchase in early 2012. See the Recordings Page for more info!
Stephanie
Taylor began her musical journey as a clarinetist when she was eleven.
She discovered recorders and Renaissance music as a teenager and later
the Irish whistle and Celtic music. In 2005, Stephanie decided to
purchase a hammered dulcimer and quickly fell in love with the
instrument. The hammered dulcimer has become Stephanie’s primary
instrument in the band and is the focus instrument of Red River Breeze.
Byron
Dumas joined the band in February of 2006 after coming to hear the band
and sitting in for the evening. Byron’s playing has added the unique
fiddle sound found in Celtic and Old-Time music. He started playing
classical violin when he was twelve and discovered traditional and
gospel music in the 1980’s. Byron plays his fiddle daily on his rounds
as a hospice chaplain and is also a founding member of his church string
band called the Gasper Strings.
Melanie
Beck joined the band in the spring of 2008. Melanie began playing
the violin when she was eight years old. She focused on
classical music in high school but became more interested in country
music and traditional fiddle tunes after moving to Nashville to attend
college. Melanie's interest in Celtic music has grown
considerably since joining Red River Breeze and her pure, sweet fiddle
sound greatly enhances the band's acoustic flavor and provides the
melodic platform for all of the musical sounds produced by other members
of the band.
David Magers plays rhythm guitar and hammered dulcimer and joined the band in the fall of 2008 making him the newest member of the band. David has enjoyed a life-long passion for music, but only in his recently "retired" state, has he fulfilled the dream of performing. David came to Clarksville from Peoria, Illinois, by way of the June 2008 Kentucky Music Week, where he met Stephanie Taylor in a hammered dulcimer class----and, as they say----the rest is history! David's rhythmically solid guitar playing is the linchpin that helps bind the band's unique sound. And once in awhile, Stephanie will let him play the hammered dulcimer on a tune or two!
Former Members:
Sarah
Clark, joined the band before Christmas of 2005.
Sarah played penny whistle and recorder, and her playing added musical
variation and embellishment to the traditional music played by Red River
Breeze. Sarah began her musical journey playing flute and oboe in
middle and high school as well as playing recorders in duets with her
mother (Stephanie) during that period. Sarah can be heard on
the first and second of the band's albums. Sarah has been on leave of absence from
the group starting in the summer of 2009. 
David Elder joined the band in January 2007. David started his musical education at age 10 as a piano player but decided that he preferred other instruments, playing trumpet and guitar through high school. David has played in a variety of groups including jazz, Latin and rock bands and currently plays guitar, bass and keyboards in several church groups. David joined the band as a guitar player but "discovered" the mandolin soon after. The addition of David's mandolin playing added new depth and dimension to the band's music. David can be heard on the first and second of the band's albums. David left Red River Breeze in early 2011.
Dixie Jones plays rhythm guitar and joined the band shortly before Christmas 2006. Besides being a terrific rhythm guitarist, Dixie has played most traditional stringed instruments at some time in her life and, along with her husband Steve, is well known locally as a member of the Dixie Volunteers and String Legacy bands, two popular Old-Time bands in the area. Dixie's playing helped give the band that "old-time" feel on the traditional early American tunes it plays and her finger-picking style was a wonderful addition to slow Celtic airs. Dixie can be heard on the first and second of the band's albums. Dixie left Red River Breeze in April of 2011.
Steve has played the upright bass for about ten years and joined Red River Breeze in the summer of 2006. Along with his wife, Dixie, Steve is a member of the Dixie Volunteers and String Legacy bands, two popular local Old-Time bands. Steve's bass provided the foundation for the band's rhythm section and was a wonderful addition to the band's sound. Steve can be heard on the first and second of the band's albums. Steve left Red River Breeze in April of 2011.