Bios Valerie Plested, Fiddle, Vocals: Valerie is one of the finest and most musically expressive young talents to have emerged on the Southern Celtic music scene. Originally from San Antonio where she performed as a member of the All Ireland-winning group, St. Jame's Gate, she relocated to Mississippi to complete her master's degree in Anthropology. Don Penzien, Guitar, Bodhran, Whistles, Vocals: Don's dexterous work on dadgad guitar provides not only the solid, driving rhythms that are a hallmark of Legacy performances, but also perceptive and sensitive accompaniments to songs and airs. Don also is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of MS Medical Center. Justin Murphy, Flute, Whistles, Vocals: An exceptional player of flute and tinwhistle, Justin's powerful tone and swaggering rhythm have been favorably compared to Seamus Egan and Frankie Kennedy. Singing, guitar, and bodhran also are among his considerable list of talents. Justin also earned his masters' degree in Anthropology. www.justinmurphyirishmusic.com   Guest Artists Tim Britton, Uillean Pipes, Flute, Whistles: (Fairfield, IA) Tim is a virtuoso on the uilleann pipes, appearing on more than two dozen recordings. His profound insight into the tradition is tempered by the many influences he grew up with in Philadelphia. Tim also builds pipes and was formerly a member of the premier Irish tradional trio, Chulrua.  Jim Flanagan, Vocals, Guitar: (Hattiesburg, MS) Having been favorably compared to Daithi Sproule and Joe Heaney, Jim's repertoire includes a fine variety of songs from his native Southwest of Ireland which he sings in both Irish Gaelic and English.  Visit his website for more information. Richie Stafford, Fiddle, Flute, Whistles, Vocals: Multi-instrumentalist Richie Stafford, a Dublin native, learned to play flute as a boy in Co. Sligo, Ireland.  Equally at home with the fiddle and flute, he has an enormous repertoire of traditional tunes and songs. Richie unfailingly charms audiences with his sincere warmth and wit. Rick Gagné , Tenor Banjo, Bouzouki, Tinswhistles, Vocals: (Clinton, MS) Rick Gagné is an fine multi-instrumentalist, exceptional tenor banjo player, and intrepid tune hound. He is a former member of New Hampshire-based trad. band, Dun Creagan. Rick holds a PhD in Folklore and is an Assistant Professor at Tougaloo College.         Joni Muggivan, Stepdancing: (New Orleans, LA) The winner of numerous feisanna (dance competitions), including one in County Tipperary, Ireland, Joni is the epitome of grace and strength. Her dancing never fails to wow audiences at Legacy performances, and provides the perfect rythmic backdrop to many of Legacy's arrangements. Joni has recently obtained her TCRG certification. Albert Alfonso, Bodhran: (Fort Worth, TX) Albert is clearly one of the premier bodhran (Irish drum) players in the "civilized" world. Creatively blending a variety of world rhythms, Albert plays the traditional repertoire in his own innovative style. Albert also builds excellent, high-quality bodhrans with unprocessed skins and brass tuning systems. John Burleson, guitar, bodhran, storytelling (Ft. Worth, TX) Playing Celtic music on acoustic and bodhran and telling stories in the Fort Worth/Dallas area since 1983, John has long been a favorite in the festival, concert, club and session scenes. He played for many years with the former Dallas-based band, Lost Tribe and currently plays with the Trinity Hall Session players.

This website mainted by Valerie Plested