Ricky j Taylor Band Adds New Members, Signs with EHA-Nashville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - July 19, 2014 - PRLog -- (Huntsville, AL) Ricky j Taylor, founder of the Ricky j Taylor Band, recently added new band members to the Huntsville, Alabama based group. His music can best be described as Americana with a touch of Folk and Bluegrass influences.

Ricky j Taylor: Ricky, who grew up in Kentucky and now lives in Alabama, recently recorded a new project of original music, "Journey to Here,” and it features the musical gifts of some of the southeast's finest instrumentalists; including cello, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and bass. His previous experience in the industry was in Bluegrass bands with notables such as Claire Lynch; appearing on nationally syndicated shows including CMT's "Most Wanted", TNN's "New Country" and the "Earnest Tubb" radio show. He also performed on the “Lucy Opry” in Memphis, many Bluegrass festivals across the country and appears on the “Walker Street Opry & Friends” CD. Influenced by his father, a master of traditional Bluegrass, Ricky co-founded the Cross Country band which included notable members Mike Snider (current member of the Grand Ole Opry) and the late Charlie Derrington. On the heels of Ricky’s new CD release the Ricky j Taylor Band signed a PR agreement with EHA-Nashville. Evie Hawkins notes, “It is a great honor and pleasure to work with these phenomenally talented artists. Ricky has put together an amazing group and the public will not be disappointed when they catch RTB in concert!”

Inge Wood: Newly recruited to RTB is Inge Wood, wife of another RTB member, Jim Wood. Inge studied classical piano through her teen years but after a year of playing rhythm guitar with Jim, she started playing tenor guitar. She is a private music teacher along side Jim and the couple lives in the area of Shelbyville, TN.

Jim Wood: In RTB, Jim plays Cello, Fiddle, Mandola, and Guitar. He is the five-time Tennessee Fiddle Champion and twenty-eight year veteran of the professional Nashville music scene, performs on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and guitar with the highlight being virtuoso fiddling in the contest, old-time, Celtic, and swing styles. Jim started fiddling at age ten and had a strong foundation of music influence from early childhood which included Buddy Spicher and Hoot Hester. His father, Jimmy, is a rhythm guitarist, and kept Jim involved in many fiddle contests that allowed him time with greats like J.T. Perkins, Benny Thomasson, Dick Barrett, and Frazier Moss. Part of Jim's formal training included Berklee College of Music and he has used that training to teach and help young aspiring players to reach their full potential.

John Boulware:John is also a newly recruited member ad plays Bass and Fiddle. His musical influence comes from his great-great-grandfather, Will McWatters, who played fiddle, as did his grandfather Brice Bagley. John started playing at twelve years old and learned a wide variety of styles ranging from Celtic to bluegrass to old time. He performs regularly at regional festivals and contests, and has been a featured soloist twice with the Murfreesboro Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. He holds a National Beginner Division Country Musician Guitar Championship, 2 consecutive age division titles at the Tennessee State Fiddle Championship, and recently became the 2006 overall State Fiddle Champion for Tennessee. John currently resides in Chattanooga, TN and performs and teaches guitar, mandolin, and fiddle.

Hillary Bevels: The youngest member of RTB is Hillary Bevels, age 21. She is the 2013 National Old-Time Buckdancing Champion.  She started dancing at age eight when she joined a local clogging team and performed.  Hillary took up the fiddle a few years later and developed a passion for Old-Time music.  Naturally, she learned the Old-Time dance style too.  By the grace of God, Hillary met buck dancers Thomas Maupin and Jay Bland who played a huge role in nurturing her talent.  Hillary Bevels has gone on to teach students of her own, one of whom won the Tennessee State Championship.

In addition to the amazing individual talents of the RTB; collectively, Jim, Inge, John, and Hillary form an instrumental group called "Fidula" (Italian for Fiddle)."

The group's affiliations include BMI, a newly formed contract agreement with the Evie Hawkins Agency (EHA-Nashville), and Huntsville Traditional Music Association. For bookings contact Ricky: trebleinparadise@yahoo.com (mailto:trebleinparadise@yahoo.com?subject).

Also visit RTB on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/TheRickyjTaylorBand

Evie Hawkins 256-856-0910 or 256-303-8354 Concert promoters may receive a free press kit by contacting Evie at: Office@EHA-Nashville.com

Contact Ricky j Taylor directly: 256-679-7425