THIRD SUNDAY BAND
The Band
Al Todd – Acoustic Guitar and lead vocals
Al has been playing the guitar off an on since he was 12 but never really played much with others until God called him to Christian music and inspired him to give back in 1998. Al serves as the lead (Assistant Director) for Contemporary Music at St Margaret's Church and loves to jam in blues and americana or bluegrass with others. Al leads Vacaton Bible School and the Green Team and many other activities and missions at the church. When not playing guitar and writing music, Al is spending time with wife Teresa and their four sons, traveling, biking, exploring, or boating on the Chesapeake Bay. Al retired from the USDA Forest Service and as Executive Director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and now volunteers his time with many other conservation nonprofits to restore the Chesapeake Bay and fulfill a lifelong passion for the environment and caring for God’s creation.
Ernie Tucker – Lead Guitar, Flute, mandolin, sitar, keyboards, and most anything.
In addition to being a classically-trained flautist and jazz bassist, Ernie can pull out his Dicky Betts on the guitar or pick up and play just about any instrument. As versatile as his musical abilities, are the languages and accents he interjects randomly at practice or in conversation. By profession, Ernie is a well-known historian of the Middle East and a professor at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Controlling his polka desires are a constant challenge.
Emilie Stafford – Vocals
Emilie sings with power and emotion and can fall into sweet natural harmonies with ease. Emilie is also the band’s memory manager, keeping the notes on arrangements and instrumentation to keep us in line. She spends her days as a Nurse Practitioner in the neo-natal ward of our local hospital. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters who follow in her footsteps—they too can sing.
Alli DiMartini Smith – Vocals and Violin
Alli brought her energy to our Band in 2014 and it has been a delight to watch her talents grow. Mother of 3 girls and a nurse educator, she can handle just about anything with grace and a smile. With a beautiful soprano voice, amazing harmonies, and a growing contribution of violin back up, she has become a key part of TSB's sound.
Deb Callahan – Bass
A long time guitarist, Deb took up the bass when she joined the band in 2008. She immediately fell in love with the subtle art of bass playing and loves laying down the beat while the others create amazing sounds around her. Her dry wit adds fun to TSB’s weekly practices. But make no mistake, this jokester prides herself on being a steady presence in this dynamic group of musicians. Deb is married to lead vocalist Emilie; both are passionate about this band and the positive energy it generates. In her work life, Deb is the CEO for a national energy performance ratings non-profit.
Will Cravens – Keyboards, Bass, and Cello
Samara Firebaugh - Mandolin and vocals
The newest members of our group, Will has professional music training and brings a variety of talents and versatility as a bassist and keyboard player as well as providing the beauty of a cello to many of our more acoustic pieces. Will is a lawyer by profession and so can keep us out of legal trouble as needed.
Samara grew up singing in the choir and loves music in all its forms. She contributes to the Third Sunday Band with vocals and the mandolin. In her day job, she is an engineering professor and college administrator. She and Will are parents to two teenagers and three dogs.
George “Dusty” MacMillan - harmonica
Dusty joins the Band on harmonica. He has a briefcase full of dozens of harps of every shape size and key and is most at home when we drift into gospel and blues (or a sea shanty or two!). Dusty has a knack for subtle fills but can wail on cue, Dusty comes from a long life of work on the water as a Boat Captain and salesman, has a passion for classic cars, motorcycles and boats, and has two young sons who keep him running.
Jamie Wilson – Drums and percussion
Jamie moved to Baltimore in 1972 from Portsmouth, Virginia to attend the Maryland Institute-College of Art receiving a BFA degree in 1977. He is an accomplished percussionist and has played a wide variety of music in the Baltimore / Washington area for over thirty two years.
Jamie is the drummer for the Irish Rock Band “O’Malleys March” and has had the honor of sharing the stage with Patti LaBelle, Los Lobos, Blues Travelers, The Chieftains, Shane MacGowan & The Pogues, Black 47, The Saw Doctors, Bad Haggis, Charlie Musselwhite, Dennis Chambers, Carl Filipiak, Deanna Bogart, The Kelly Bell Band, The Slickee Boys, Half Japanese, The Prodigals, Eileen Ivers, Sue Richards, Maggie Sansone, Al Petteway, Billy McComiskey, Hasil Adkins, Almighty Senators, The Crawdaddies, Edith Massey, Hibiscus & The Screaming Violets, Violent Femmes, Tinsley Ellis, Koko Taylor, Gaelic Storm, Flogging Molly, Great Big Sea, Robin Bullock and The Baltimore Symphony. We are blessed to have Jamie share his talents with St. Margaret's.
Teresa Todd – Sound
Teresa has graciously followed the band around to gigs and guided our live sound as well as keeping things just right for worship services in the Church. It's not just that she has to be there anyway when Al is playing but we think she really is our biggest fan!