It started with a music circle in Merlin, Oregon. It was the end of the summer, the end of the river season. There was love in the air. It was 1977. Forty years later, after all these years, we’re still making music together. We’ve marked weddings, births, and deaths. We’ve celebrated and struggled. We’ve done our best, had some luck and a lot of help. Our family has grown and, with it, our joy. We’re still making music, all of us, after all these years...
Meet the Band
Rick Byars
Rick is the Patriarch of the Byars family band. He is the Songwriter, lead singer and Rhythm guitar player for the family band. Born in Victoria, texas, he's a 4th generation texan, musician, avid fisherman, woodworker, and traveler - especially since his Retirement in 2015 from the McCombs school of business MIS program at UT Austin. perhaps most importantly he is a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather.
Amelia Byars Penoli
Amelia grew up in Wimberley, texas and currently lives in the live music capital - Austin. She played piano growing up, but is exclusively a vocalist on the Byars family band albums. When not singing with the BFB, amelia is a pediatric Physical therapist, family photographer, and most importantly, a mama to Ella and Sawyer and happy wife to Jason.
Zach Byars
Zach is the younger, though taller, Sibling. He can play almost any instrument he gets his hands on, but his specialty is the mandolin. He sings as well, and while you won't hear it on any albums, his raps are legendary. He has been a white water guide, ski instructor, wilderness rescue instructor, and music lesson giver... currently, though, He is a teacher and outdoor adventure guide in southern california where he lives with his family, Tessa and lila.
Sawyer, Ella, Lila
The third generation of the Byars Family Band. These three cousins have music in their blood. Ella inspired a poem by monica, which inspired the song "I wonder" from BFB3. all three love to play any instrument they can get their little hands on - and listen for their voices and squeals and giggles on "KIDS" on the BFB3.
Monica Michell
Monica grew up in California singing with her sister and brothers and cousins and has fostered that same love for singing in her children and her grandchildren. She retired from Texas State University after teaching theatre for 26 years. Now she devotes her time to writing poems and plays, making photo books, traveling, singing with the family, and most importantly, creating bliss with Ella, Sawyer and Lila! Monica is the band’s bass player and sings harmony.
Jason Penoli
Jason is from the waco, texas area, and also grew up in a family of music. He married Amelia and brought his talents on the saxaphone and drums to the family and family band. He also learned the guitar to woo his future bride. He is a sought-after physical therapist and uses made-up songs on the guitar at dinner time to get his kids to eat their veggies.
Tessa Byars
Tessa grew up in sacramento, california, but spends enough time in texas these days to earn her honorary status. She brings viola/fiddle to the family and the BFB. SHe's also a patagonia PR executive, adventurer, Surfer, and mama to Lila. Their family spends as much time at the beach as they can!