Isaac Taylor: Living His Best Life
- Jason Young
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you think being a full-time musician isn’t a rewarding job, ask Florida-based banjoist Isaac Taylor. Whether he’s teaching someone how to play “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” or touring with rising Florida band Remedy Tree, he enjoys every minute of it.
“Oh my goodness. It’s my dream!” said Taylor over the phone during an early morning interview.
In 2014, a newly married Taylor traded his banjo for computer systems and data management. “I was about to graduate from college, and I… thought, ‘You know, I need to be responsible—I need to get a regular job, settle down, and have a family,’” remembered the former member of The Florida State Bluegrass Band.
“I worked in IT for eleven years—from desktop support to database management. I was good at it, but it was not a fulfilling profession for me.”
One call changed everything.
“Lead singer and guitarist, Gabriel Acevedo, of Remedy Tree called me and asked me if I wanted to be a member of the group.
“My number one concern was, I didn't want to be gone all the time,” said Taylor, who’s a husband and father.
“It requires planning, and it requires understanding. I have two kids; a two-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl,” shared the Remedy Tree banjoist. “I said to [Gabriel] ‘I would love to play in Remedy Tree, but I’m, not going to do it at the expense of my kids and my wife.’”
Turns out that Gabriel didn’t want that either.
“Gabriel is in the same season of life that I'm in,” said the Florida banjoist. “He and his wife, vocal/ bassist Abigail “Abby” Acevedo, have three kids.”
Taylor also credited his wife Rachel. “I wouldn't be here playing music if it weren't for her. She told me when I was in IT, ‘I don't care if we won't make as much money. I would rather you be yourself and be happy than be miserable with this job.’”
When he’s not with Remedy Tree, he pursues a different passion.
“I got into teaching because I like to share what I know,” explained Taylor. He urges students to be creative. “That can be an issue in the banjo world because we get locked into, ‘this is the way Earl played it and it's the only way it should ever be played!’ I guess my hot take on that is, you're not making art unless you're being creative.”
Along with Earl Sruggs, a young Taylor found a classic TV sitcom inspirational.
“I grew up in a little beach town in Florida, called Vero Beach. It's not exactly the bluegrass capital of the world,” explained Taylor. “I didn't have much exposure to bluegrass at all until my dad was watching The Andy Griffith Show, and I [saw] the Dillards. I heard Doug Dillard kick off ‘Dooley’ on the banjo—and that just totally captivated me!”
He received his education while playing with musician, festival promoter, and radio personality, Ernie Evans.
“Ernie Evans taught me how to play banjo in a band format. Up until that point, I had been playing in jam circles—sort of free for all stuff. He showed me all the little mechanics, like what to do when a guitar is playing, and not to play the melody while the vocalist is singing.
“The biggest takeaway from my years with The Florida State Bluegrass Band is the things that Ernie taught me. I treasure them today.”
Leaving the band, he still played on occasions. “[Music] wasn't a main focus. It was just something like ‘hey, I'll make a little more money on the side.”’
Things are much different today, pointed out the Florida native.
“I was seeing people that I know [perform] at IBMA and things happening in the music industry—I was just feeling major FOMO (fear of missing out) [laughed].
“Today I get to make music and be part of a band that is making art,” admitted Taylor about Remedy Tree. “You will not hear any complaints from me!”
Keep an eye out for Remedy Tree’s new album, dropping this summer!