TAXI DRIVER INDUCTED INTO THE NEBRASKA MUSIC HALL OF FAME!
September 29, 2024
It is with great honor and a lot of humility that we announce Taxi Driver will be inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame September 29, 2024 at Stocks and Bonds, 4pm-8pm.
Current members: Michael Pujado, Al & Michelle Irions, Mike Turner, Glen Smith, Joe Gonzales, Alex Rivas
Past Members: Sarah Girres, Cory & Nicole Kountze, Miles Loretta, Andy Neely, Marc Golden, Barry Taylor
Posthumously: Mark Peters, Olen Briggs, Jim Snyder
Taxi Driver has been performing to crowds all over Nebraska and Iowa (and beyond!) since 1991. The band was originally founded by Michael Pujado, Hall of Fame percussionist who has played with Quincey Jones, Richard Marx, 10-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, 16-time Grammy award winner Kenny G, Patty Austin, Buddy Miles, and many times with Slightly Stoopid at Red Rocks. Michael is a Global Music Award winning percussionist for outstanding achievement in Latin Jazz due to his work with the UNO Jazz Program. He has taught for the Vail Jazz Foundation program called “Jazz Goes to School” in Vail, CO for the last 15 years where they won the Jazz Educator of the Year, country-wide. He currently plays with numerous top bands in Omaha and the Midwest.
Michael was joined in 1991 by Al Irions, Brian Hayes, Keith Hibbard, Frank Prince, Cory Kountze, Clark Chancellor, and Olen Briggs. These are the awesome guys that got the ball rolling for Taxi Driver. They were considered a “jam band”, playing artists such as Santana, Phish, and the Allman Brothers. While the original formation didn't last more than a few years, they had a blast playing together, learned a lot, and so began the story of Taxi Driver.
In 1996, Michelle Irions (Al's soon-to-be-wife) joined Taxi Driver. She had grown up singing in church and school and really didn't have any aspirations to join a band, but she did anyway. Her first show was opening for Tim McGraw and Lynyrd Skynyrd at Westfair Amphitheater. A heck of a way to start!
In 1998, the focus turned to vocals and harmonies, and Sarah Girres joined the band. Sarah was the consummate performer, a great harmonizer, and was a huge highlight for Taxi Driver. Fans came from everywhere to watch Sarah and Michelle. They sang together for 22 years until she retired in 2020, but they still play together on occasion.
During this time, Taxi Driver experimented a lot with the vocals. We were the first band in Omaha to claim three female vocalists, then four, then five. Michelle, Sarah, Jessica Greene (formerly of Rough Cut), Chrystal Gard (formerly of Avaricious), and Nicole Kountze (now with The 1-4-5), were a powerhouse of harmonies and regularly played 70+ shows a year.
It took many years of hard work and dedication, but in 2008, things really settled down and tightened up for Taxi Driver. We were playing over 100 shows a year and traveling all over the Midwest. The permanent lineup included Michelle, Sarah, and Nicole, Al Irions on keys, Cory Kountze on guitar, Andy Neely on bass, and Miles Loretta on drums. Cory, founding member of TD was also with the band for 22 years, Andy for 6, and Miles for 13 years. This “iteration” lasted until 2011 when Cory and Nicole were married and started having children. They now have two beautiful kids, Max and Gracie who are ALSO extremely musically talented and on occasion, jump on stage to perform with us!
Mike Turner, current guitar player of Taxi Driver took Cory's place in 2011, Glen Smith, current guitar/bass player (also formerly of Mannheim Steamroller and currently, Petrock) joined in 2014, Joe Gonzales, bass player joined in 2019, and Alex Rivas, drummer joined in 2022. They are ALL very experienced musicians with numerous accolades to their names, and we're a tight knit group of friends.
And that is where we are today!
Taxi Driver has now played a couple thousand shows over the years and have played/sang well over 1,000 songs. We travel all over the Midwest to perform at corporate, holiday, & private parties, weddings, street dances, event centers, concert series’, festivals, bars and more. As well as opening for national acts such as Tim McGraw, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sawyer Brown, The Monkees and BTO, to name a few.
Taxi Driver has won Best of Omaha Local Band in 2022 and 2023 through Omaha Magazine, and Best Local Band for the Omaha’s Choice Awards through the Omaha World Herald in 2022 and 2023. Taxi Driver has also been nominated 6 times in the category of "Best Cover Band" in Omaha by the Omaha Entertainment Awards. Check out our About Us page for venues we have played over the years.
We thank every single person and venue who has ever booked us, and every sound technician who has every run us. It's because of they and our fans that we are in the position we are in (so blessed!). As the years have gone on, we've been fortunate to play high profile shows. But we LOVE playing for our local communities. We love sharing the talents we've been gifted with others. Finally, we've always wanted to be accessible and affordable for everyone and we hope we've accomplished that.
Thank you to all of our families who have put up with our crazy schedules for so many years! We definitely couldn't do it without your support, and we appreciate you more than you know!
In addition to all the musicians who have played with us over the years, we'd like to thank some very specific people who have contributed to our success. We may miss someone (because there's so many!), and if so, I apologize. But please know that we remember you and what you did to help us, and we'll never forget that.
Special Mentions:
Barry Taylor, drummer
Marc Golden, bass player
Brandon Hensley, drummer
Andy Neely, bass player
Frank Gappa, guitar/sax
Alan Sealy, vocalist
Bryant Fischer, bass
Duke Riggs, drummer
Ian Turner, roadie
Mary Robbins and Dale Hinkelday, Vision Creations
Rick Brock, band electrician
Nils Erickson and Marilyn Thomsen, Rainbow Music
John Gebuhr and Clay Heydorn, Rainbow Music (kept all our equipment running)
Boomer Radio
Bluffs Country
Steve Ozidon, TMS
Bill and Wendy Romans, #1 Fans and Roadie Helpers
Keith Nielsen, Dave Huss, Chris & Rebecca Montgomery, Mary White Doeden & Dale Gerdes, #1 Fans
ALL OUR FANS!!!
Deceased Members (we will never forget):
Mark Peters, Best Roadie Ever
Olen Briggs, drummer
Jim Snyder, trumpet player
Darnell Butts, guitar player
Sound/Light Guys:
Scott White, White Noize
Jay Wilcher
Chuck/Charlie Couch
Kevin Hiddleston
John Murren & Jimmy James, Blue Dog Entertainment
Matt Casey
J.E. VanHorne
Diane Strobel
Venues/Owners/Events:
Lisa Bockman, Stinson Park
Tony Fucinaro, The Ozone/Anthony's Steakhouse
Mike and Lori Walker, The Surfside Club
Junior, The Anchor Inn and Junior's Forgot Store
Todd Shanno, The Dock Bar & Grill
Steve Lupardus & Darcy Kwasniewski, Cottonwood Cove & Marina
James and Ashley Song, Bogie's West Bar & Grill
Butch, 2nd Street Slammer, Hastings NE
Johnny Ray Gomez Sr.
Subby Anzaldo Sr and Sebastian Anzaldo Jr, LaFesta Italiana and Taste of Omaha
Mike Mancuso, Taste of Omaha/Wine & Balloon Festival
Stan Christensen and John Schmitt, Norfolk's Music in the Park
Doug Huggins, SumTur Amphitheater
Chelsea Best and Shauna Brunson, Share My Smile
Ameristar Casino/Amerisports Bar
Whiskey Roadhouse
Omaha Parks & Recreation
Henry Doorly Zoo
Candy Mapes, Oak Hills Country Club
Jennie Ed Foundation Annual Fundraiser
Leah Johnson, Omaha Musicians Live
Stacy Laue, Bennington's Annual Party Time Dance
Dennis Butler, Missouri River Boat Club
Jerry Pauley, Panama Picnic and Pauley's Pub in Panama IA
Village Pointe Concert Series
Shadow Lake Concert Series
Susan G Komen, Race for the Cure
Light the Night for LLS
Jeremy, Rod, & Bill - Hordville NE Street Dance
Bill, Rumors (taught Al how to “coon fish”)
Brian Wragge, The Arena
A Few of Our Most Ridiculous Memories:
*Denting in the awning at Oak Hills Country Club
*Crushing a thick metal door with our band truck during a blizzard in Fremont
*Two hours trying to get out of our backyard with the band truck in 3 feet of snow using sheets of plywood
*EVERY BLIZZARD EVER
*Al falling off stage in Hordville ,NE
*Michelle falling off stage in Hordville, NE and dislocating her shoulder
*Michelle AND Sarah jumping off furniture at the Manhattan Club, being launched into the air only to ungracefully fall to the floor
*Michelle spraining her ankle falling ONTO the stage at 3 Cheers
*Miles breaking a teeter hang up and crashing to the floor right before a gig
Lots of great memories and hilarious stories but too many to mention!
MUCH RESPECT and love for ALL of our fellow musicians and bands who have been around for years, work their tails off, and sweat and bleed to play the music we all love. You are also so deserving, and it's not lost on us!
Thanks SO MUCH for being a part of the Taxi Driver family! If you took the time to read this, you are truly a CABBIE!! :)
FINALLY, FROM AL, his three frequent quotes:
“It's all about the women”
“I'm just happy to be here”
“I blame the parents”
