Meet the Band ...
Ranee Stepp
(lead vocals, guitar and autoharp )
We have dubbed her the "Golden Voice of
Bluegrass". Ranee grew up singing from
time she could talk. From church to school
concerts she loved performing on stage.
She has a natural talent for bluegrass vocals.
Ranee is married to Craig Stepp and they
have a 4 year old son, Brock ( who is well on
his way to joining us on stage). They also
have a brand new daughter as well. Ranee
justcompleted her first solo CD project
entitled "Ranee Stepp in Fields of Grass so
Blue". She is accompanied by some of
WesternNorth Carolina's finest musicians
and singers.
Dwayne "Doc" Durham
(guitar, bass, vocals)
"Doc" is our "Mr. Entertainment". As the
band leader and founder of Appalachian Fire
he has been the catalyst for our success.
Doc spent his early day dabbling in all kinds
of music, but his heart never left bluegrass .
From the time he met and got on stage with
Bill Monroe he was bitten by the bug. Over
the years Doc's "day jobs" have included
being an paramedic, teacher, certified
athletic trainer, minister, and entrepreneur.
Now in he finds himself busier than ever
serving as the athletic trainer for East
Henderson High School and supply pastoring
for local Presbyterian churches. In the midst
of all this, he still finds time to write original
songs for the band. Doc is married to Shea
who shares their love of animals working
with North State Animal Clinic.
Cliff Searcy
( mandolin, bass, guitar, dobro, vocals)
Cliff is our "Jack of all trades". Anywhere
there is a need, he'll try to fill in and meet it.
From handling multiple instruments and
vocals to toting sound equipment, driving
the van, and managing web sites, he is
making it hard for us to run him off. Cliff fell
in love with the bluegrass gospel sound from
the camp meeting style music he heard in
church as a kid. During his college days he
had bluegrass band, but soon put it on the
back burner. He has spent over 25 years
with his wife Lisa (the bands unofficial
photographer) raising two children Meredith,
and Jared and pursuing a career in teaching
and coaching. Having left the football field
in 2007, he now has time to perform and write
some of the original tunes the band sings.
Dave Ploss
(banjo)
Dave started his musical journey back in the
60's playing trumpet and French horn in his
hometown of Hartford CT. - He started
playing the guitar in 1963 and kept that up
through college (Worcester Polytechnic
Institute) where he played with J. Geils who
went on to have a successful rock band. Jay
( pretty good picker , himself) was also
Dave's inspiration for picking up the banjo.
Dave got his first banjo in 1975 and played
until he started his own environmental,
health and safety consulting business. After
25 year hiatus and a move to NC a friend
encouraged him to start playing again. He
was hooked.
Jim Fox
(Bass)
Our bass player, Jim Fox, is a native of
Western Pennsylvania and a retired national
park ranger. Since 1990, Jim has been
playing old-time and Celtic music on
hammered dulcimer with "The Windjammer
Trio" and "Sunny Side Up." Jim has played
bass with the Asheville based bluegrass
band "Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition." Jim
and his partner, Gail Ashburn, play and sing
in a variety of musical styles in the Asheville
area.
Karen Kuykendall
(Fiddle)
Bluegrass is a new venue for Karen, who
grew up playing classical violin from the time
she was 5. Born in Montana but raised in the
South, Karen has played with many different
area ensembles. The chance to be a part of
Appalachian Fire came as a new and
welcomed challenge for her last year. She
relishes the opportunity to interact with the
audience and sing back-up vocals with the
band, as well as being its fiddler. Karen and
her husband Charles have two boys, Douglas
and William, who keep her very busy when
she's at home.
Ranee Stepp
(lead vocals, guitar and autoharp )
We have dubbed her the "Golden Voice of
Bluegrass". Ranee grew up singing from
time she could talk. From church to school
concerts she loved performing on stage.
She has a natural talent for bluegrass vocals.
Ranee is married to Craig Stepp and they
have a 4 year old son, Brock ( who is well on
his way to joining us on stage). They also
have a brand new daughter as well. Ranee
justcompleted her first solo CD project
entitled "Ranee Stepp in Fields of Grass so
Blue". She is accompanied by some of
WesternNorth Carolina's finest musicians
and singers.
Dwayne "Doc" Durham
(guitar, bass, vocals)
"Doc" is our "Mr. Entertainment". As the
band leader and founder of Appalachian Fire
he has been the catalyst for our success.
Doc spent his early day dabbling in all kinds
of music, but his heart never left bluegrass .
From the time he met and got on stage with
Bill Monroe he was bitten by the bug. Over
the years Doc's "day jobs" have included
being an paramedic, teacher, certified
athletic trainer, minister, and entrepreneur.
Now in he finds himself busier than ever
serving as the athletic trainer for East
Henderson High School and supply pastoring
for local Presbyterian churches. In the midst
of all this, he still finds time to write original
songs for the band. Doc is married to Shea
who shares their love of animals working
with North State Animal Clinic.
Cliff Searcy
( mandolin, bass, guitar, dobro, vocals)
Cliff is our "Jack of all trades". Anywhere
there is a need, he'll try to fill in and meet it.
From handling multiple instruments and
vocals to toting sound equipment, driving
the van, and managing web sites, he is
making it hard for us to run him off. Cliff fell
in love with the bluegrass gospel sound from
the camp meeting style music he heard in
church as a kid. During his college days he
had bluegrass band, but soon put it on the
back burner. He has spent over 25 years
with his wife Lisa (the bands unofficial
photographer) raising two children Meredith,
and Jared and pursuing a career in teaching
and coaching. Having left the football field
in 2007, he now has time to perform and write
some of the original tunes the band sings.
Dave Ploss
(banjo)
Dave started his musical journey back in the
60's playing trumpet and French horn in his
hometown of Hartford CT. - He started
playing the guitar in 1963 and kept that up
through college (Worcester Polytechnic
Institute) where he played with J. Geils who
went on to have a successful rock band. Jay
( pretty good picker , himself) was also
Dave's inspiration for picking up the banjo.
Dave got his first banjo in 1975 and played
until he started his own environmental,
health and safety consulting business. After
25 year hiatus and a move to NC a friend
encouraged him to start playing again. He
was hooked.
Jim Fox
(Bass)
Our bass player, Jim Fox, is a native of
Western Pennsylvania and a retired national
park ranger. Since 1990, Jim has been
playing old-time and Celtic music on
hammered dulcimer with "The Windjammer
Trio" and "Sunny Side Up." Jim has played
bass with the Asheville based bluegrass
band "Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition." Jim
and his partner, Gail Ashburn, play and sing
in a variety of musical styles in the Asheville
area.
Karen Kuykendall
(Fiddle)
Bluegrass is a new venue for Karen, who
grew up playing classical violin from the time
she was 5. Born in Montana but raised in the
South, Karen has played with many different
area ensembles. The chance to be a part of
Appalachian Fire came as a new and
welcomed challenge for her last year. She
relishes the opportunity to interact with the
audience and sing back-up vocals with the
band, as well as being its fiddler. Karen and
her husband Charles have two boys, Douglas
and William, who keep her very busy when
she's at home.
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