Monica Taylor performs on stage with her husband , Travis Fite .
For two years , I didn ’ t have running water or a light switch , but it was what I needed – self-reliance and hard physical work . And that is what I got ,” Taylor said . “ I made a lifetime of friends from those years .”
“ For two years , I didn ’ t have running water or a light switch , but it was what I needed – self-reliance and hard physical work . And that is what I got ,” Taylor said . “ I made a lifetime of friends from those years .”
The Cimarron Songbird – a nickname given to her by Red Dirt musicians Jimmy LaFave and Bob Childers for her unique singing style – completed a tour across the northwestern U . S . in September for her latest album Trains , Rivers , and Trails , which was released at the end of July .
It ’ s a topical album in a way because most of the songs are about those three things ,” Taylor said . “ I just looked at the songs I wanted to put down , and they all happened to be about the outdoors and rivers and trains – pathways , in a sense .”
But if fans think Taylor is taking a breather for a while , they would be mistaken .
She already has another new album coming out in January titled A Red Dirt Ramble , and she is likely performing across Europe next year .
A Red Dirt Ramble is a collaborative project featuring original Red Dirt songs that have been played across the country for years . The album features 55 artists , including Red Dirt originals like Cody Canada , Bob Wildes , Jason Boland and Stoney LaRue , along with Craig Skinner , brother of Tom Skinner , one of the godfathers of Red Dirt country .
“ It ’ s a tribute to the pioneers of Red Dirt music ,” she said . “ It ’ s the songs we ’ ve all learned from the people who wrote them .”
But the music doesn ’ t stop when Taylor comes home . She also hosts a seasonal music series at the
Oklahoma Territorial Plaza , which has entailed over 180 performers from all over the world performing Red Dirt music .
“ My whole life revolves around music ,” Taylor said . “ I suppose it ’ s the stories , the honesty of the songs , the act of crafting a song that I love . It is like a well-crafted home , I think . A builder needs to build a home , but a crafter sees more details of the home , takes his or her time to make the building special .”
Taylor has been hosting the concert series since 2013 after she moved back home to be near her parents after living in Colorado and northeastern Oklahoma for most of her adult life . She now lives in a barn home in her parents ’ old pecan orchard that she helped plant 30 years ago .
“ When I was growing up in Perkins , my mom and dad encouraged my interest in singing at church and for just about any group who would invite me to sing and play guitar for them ,” Taylor said .
“ They saw an interest then , but later on , they saw that I needed to sing . I am thankful to God each day that I get to use this gift to deliver a story in song to people . When folks come up to me , they share the way one of my songs touches them deeply or how a performance gives them a feeling of peace , and that makes my craft even more special for me .”
STORY BY : ALISA BOSWELL-GORE Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS : Provided
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9