The Band
Sarah Girres, lead vocals; joined TD in 1998. She started her journey with TD walking into Rainbow Music one day with a piece of paper saying, "Singer available. No rap or hard rock, please." Nineteen years later, she's a long-time singer in a successful regional band. Sarah has spent her life singing and performing. She is a native of Council Bluffs and is married with two great girls.
Michelle Irions, lead vocals, joined TD in 1996. Michelle grew up with music and has played in and booked TD for over 20 years. Michelle also helps book other bands & acts, design websites and Facebook sites for companies, is a training specialist for GSK, & is the VP and on the Board of Directors for CB non-profit, Share My Smile.
Al Irions, Keys, Sound Guy, Manager; founded TD in 1991. Al has been playing in bands since 1958 starting with his Jackson 5-like family band! His passion is music and he's had the honor of playing with many great musicians over the years. He and Michelle have been married for 19 years and manage the band together. Al also worked for Rainbow Music for 17 years.
Miles Loretta, Drums, Vocals; joined TD in 2008. Our funny, quirky drummer has a super solid meter and adds the flavor to the group! He also has a long history playing with some great national and regional acts. Miles is happily married with a beautiful daughter.
Mike Turner, Guitar, Vocals; joined TD in 2012. Mike is a retired Air Force Major and a multi-talented musician. He's got a mind like a human jukebox which is perfect for the variety we play! Mike has years of history playing in bands in Omaha. We're lucky WE snagged him!
Glen Smith, Bass & Vocals - Joined TD in 2014. Also a member of Grammy Award-Winning, Manheim Steamroller. Glen is a super talented dude playing guitar, classical guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, piano, AND sings! He is an instructor at Dietze Music.
Michael Pujado, Regular Guest Percussionist & Co-Founder of TD. Michael is originally from Chile. We have been friends since he was barely old enough to drink legally. He started out on an old JC Penney drum kit. Today, he is a just a great guy and a phenomenal percussionist. He has played with greats like Buddy Miles, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny G, Quincy Jones, Patty Austin & Richard Marx.
John Murren - Pro Lights, Blue Dog Entertainment. John has been working with TD for over 10 years. He is one of our long-time, closest friends!
Kevin Cowan - Pro Lights, Blue Dog Entertainment. Kevin is John's right-hand man and has been working with TD for over 10 years. Kevin is a master at making us look good!
About Us
Taxi Driver is a popular, 6-piece, regional variety band from Omaha formed TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO in 1991 and fronted by two female singers. We perform more than 80 shows a year for a large variety of venues and events. From weddings, to corporate, holiday, and private parties, street dances, fairs/festivals, family-friendly events, and bars; we provide a fun, interactive show that spans every decade of music from the 50's to today.
Playing Oldies, Motown, Classic & Modern Rock, Country (new & old), Pop, Dance & Current Hits, all members of Taxi Driver are accomplished, professional musicians with long-standing records of experience (live and studio) to their credit.
Our History
Taxi Driver's journey started in 1991 as a jam band, playing blues and artists such as Santana, the Allman Brothers & Phish. In 1998, the band morphed into a female-fronted band with an interactive stage presence, and strong, solid harmonies. Taxi Driver was the very first band in Omaha to claim three, and even five female vocalists!
We play everything live....no tracks! We do not use pre-determined song lists during our shows. Each show is customized on the fly to the audience and age group that is there with little to no time between songs, keeping YOU on the dance floor!
TD has covered the bar circuit in Omaha/Council Bluffs. Over the last 15 years, we have taken our show all across Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, and Missouri where we've been privileged to meet the awesome folks of the Midwest!
Experience & Specialties
Taxi Driver specializes in professional events such as corporate and holiday parties, weddings, street dances, fairs/festivals; you name it, we'll play it! We have also opened for national acts such as Tim McGraw, Sawyer Brown, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Monkees and BTO, to name a few.
Taxi Driver has been nominated for FOUR Omaha Entertainment Awards in the category of "Best Cover Band" in 2008, 2009, 2013, & 2015.
Events & Festivals include, but not limited to:
The Century Link Center, Holland Performing Arts Center, Westfair, Taste of Omaha, Bridge Beats, Summer Arts Festival, The Brownville Concert Series, Red Cloud Opera House, Omaha & Duncan Ribfest, Milligan June Jubilee, Logan Fire & Rescue Street Dance, Papillion Days, Dodge Daze, Clarinda Annual Street Dance, Light the Night for LLS, The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Panama Picnic, Dunlap 4-County Fair, Riverfest, Earth Day, LaVista Days, Gretna Days, Red Oak Junction Days, Bronson IA Fire & Ambulance Street Dance, Lindsay NE Fire & Rescue Street Dance, Columbus Days, Washington NE County Fair, Celebrate CB, LaFesta Italiana, Anchor Inn Annual Memorial and Labor Day Bash, The Wayne Chicken Show, Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, Village Pointe & Shadow Lake Concert Series', Norfolk's Music in the Park, Harrah's, Ameristar, and Horseshoe Casinos.