An Acoustic/Celtic/Folk Duo
Reviews
Reviews and Publicity
"Over the past few months I have had the privilege to attend some of your performances and can see why PAYO has such a great reputation! Every performance I have seen has been first class and loved by the audience, whether middle or elementary school students. I am honored to serve such a great group of professionals such as you." Terry Aretz, Executive Director, PAYO (Performing Arts for Youth Organization)
"Their set was a trip around the world. It included traditional folk songs from England, Ireland, Germany and Scotland. Troubadour also did traditional American folk songs such as "Cindy" and "Liza Jane" as well as some classic crowd-pleasers "Ghost Riders in the Sky", "Wayfaring Stranger", "The Rose" and "Danny Boy". One word describes Troubadour's performance: pleasure. The Black Rose Acoustic Society Newsletter, May/June 2000
"Their live appearances are characterized by high-energy, usually uplifting, music that is wide ranging - Celtic, traditional folk, old ballads, blues, country, western, ethnic - and even show tunes. Both are wonderful singers... and they are great at including the audience. The backbone of Troubadour is good, solid, experienced musicianship." The Black Rose Acoustic Society Newsletter, March/April 2000.
"Thanks so much for your workshop and performance contributions to [Rocky Mountain Storytelling Festival]. You made a lot of friends in our audiences with your high quality presentations." John Stansfield, RMSF, August 1999
"Two long-time veterans are Colorado Springs' own Don Johnson and Beezy Taylor, known collectively as Troubadour. They've been playing and singing familiar traditional songs at the Colorado Renaissance Festival for nine years, and are recognized as an important foundation of the festival's music. Donna Maurer, Tri-Lakes Tribune, July 1999.
"The featured act was Troubadour, with Don Johnson on guitar and bodhran and Beezy Taylor on guitar, banjo, and recorder. Their set featured English and Irish folk songs and ballads. They also included sing-alongs. Few performers can enchant and entrance an audience like Beezy and Don. It was a beautiful way to end the show." The Black Rose Acoustic Society Newsletter, July/August 1998
"Don Johnson and Beezy Taylor have a soft spot for the past. The past from centuries ago in the British Isles, with gallant lords and fair ladies. They sing modern songs, too, such as Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair." But only the timeless ones. Composed of new songs and "greatest hits" from their past four albums, "The Best of Balladry" is a nostalgic album that will make you smile. Troubadour is perfect for something like the Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, where they're playing for the eighth summer. See the band there weekends through August 2 [noon and 3:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays]." The Gazette, June 1998
"From "Oh, Susannah" to Hank Williams' "Kawliga", anti-war folk tunes to Scottish drinking songs, Beezy Taylor and Don Johnson can get nearly any crowd to clap and sing along. At children's shows, the student-teacher duo plays popular old folk tunes mixed with classics that all kids know, such as "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." The Gazette, December 1997
"Beezy's been part of the Colorado Springs folk scene since the 60s Folk Scare, Don is a new(er) arrival, and they've been performing together since 1990. Both are wonderful singers, doing a lot of close-harmony duet singing, and they do a great mix of folk, 60s, renaissance, Celtic, blues, country, show tunes, and ethnic music on a variety of instruments." The Black Rose Acoustic Society Newsletter, March/April 1996
"The acoustic duo has been on a musical spree through the Colorado Springs area since February 1990. They have struck at the Colorado folk and renaissance festivals, Springspree and various clubs, restaurants and private functions. Their weapons include close-harmony and a vast array of songs." Colorado Springs Independent, November 1994
"With a name reminiscent of wandering minstrels and gentler times, Don Johnson and Beezy Taylor are helping keep Celtic and folk music alive in Colorado Springs." "...interactive with [their] audience... Troubadour becomes friends with most audience members during its show. People have walked into performances and thought they were crashing a private party because of the rapport." The Gazette, December 1993
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