Meet the musicians that make Stella! one of Fargo’s best dance bands.
Paul Yarber, Guitar and Lead Vocals
“As a kid in Ohio, I used to go bars with my mom and dad to listen to cover bands. It was mostly country, but I didn’t care what they were playing, I just liked the guitar player. It just seemed to attract me.”
Paul played guitar in his first cover band while still in high school. By his 20’s he was traveling cross-country full time with a nine-piece horn band. “Our entertainment agent booked us in clubs up and down the East Coast, and from Chicago to Vegas.”
When not traveling, he played in house bands. Large clubs hired musicians to play six nights a week, and famous headliners would come in periodically, backed by the local house band. Paul performed with entertainers that have since become icons of rock history. “James Brown was a good entertainer. It was interesting to watch him dance around.”
Paul recalls Little Richard as flamboyant. “He wore makeup — eyeliner and lipstick — which was very weird back then. The guy was just loaded with energy. He would jump off the stage and run through the audience.”
In Paul’s opinion, black America invented rock and roll. “I would call Little Richard the king of rock and roll, not Elvis. Elvis stole Richard’s material, and was more rockabilly than rock.”
Eventually Paul made his way to the Fargo area, and began playing with Emerald, a horn band. “We were a favorite wedding band, and played large clubs and road houses.”
From there he made his way to Casper, who played 80’s top 40 rock. He then cycled through various Fargo cover bands. Most recently, he was lead singer and guitarist for the DeadBeats, a local classic rock group. From there, he became a founding member of Stella.
And his most memorable career gig? “I played with an Elvis impersonator who was rated #3 in the nation. I hated wearing a tux, but the money was good. We played the Strip in Vegas a lot, plus one nighters in Chicago, New Orleans and on to the next town.”
His favorite city? “After a while they all look the same. I’ve played 1,000s of gigs. No matter where you are, the show must go on.”
Dave Jeffrey Drums.
Dave is one of those rare birds so talented, he’s made a career solely as a professional musician.
And it’s been more than a Fargo cover band.
“Who would have thought a drummer from Bathgate, North Dakota would be playing 6 nights a week at the Dunes in Las Vegas?” mused Dave. As a member of the Russ Carlyle Band, Dave backed some of the biggest names in music and comedy.
The room was called the Top of the Strip. “I loved that room,” recalled Dave. “We would play until 3AM, then all the musicians in town would head down to the musicians’ Union Hall and jam until dawn. “That was the real education—to play with people who backed the Vegas head liners.”
Vegas proved exhausting. In his multi-decade career, Dave spent most of his time in Tucson, playing night clubs, private parties and weddings, with periodic road trips to Laguna Beach and Palm Springs. Tucson was a convention town, and Dave found himself often playing both an afternoon and evening gig. “And on the weekends, I must have played 1,000 weddings!” claims Dave, including celebrity affairs, though he is cautious to be a name dropper.
He eventually found his way to New York City, where he lived for 3 years. The neighborhood was 70% from the Dominican Republic. “I love Latin music, and mostly played in Black and Latino Bands.” It opened a whole new genre of music to be learned.
In 2010 Dave found his way back to North Dakota. “One of the reasons I came back is the cost of living. But the other is that we have a high per capita density of great players here.”
Dave is a founding member of Stella. Does it feel like a let down to be playing in a Fargo cover band? “Not at all. I like playing small clubs. And I like playing for wedding dances. People are happy. It’s a positive thing. They are there to have a good time. And I still get a kick out of pleasing people.”
Greg Jeffrey, Bass and backing vocals
Greg Jeffrey began playing in cover bands while studying music at UND. “My main instrument was classical guitar,” he explains, “And that made the transition to bass pretty natural.”
A founding member of Stella, his first cover band was “The Skeptics.” But gigs were few and far between. “Then we caught a break. Me and a few guys from the band were recruited to play with Justin Tyme.” Before long Greg was playing enough clubs and weddings to make it a full time job. “If you are going to play in a Fargo cover band or a wedding band, the first thing you need to know is the songs people want to hear. That’s what made the band so popular.” After just a year, he was recruited to play in a Minneapolis ‘big hair’ band.
Greg played three years with the DeadBeats, a Fargo cover band, until Covid stopped music cold. He learned that his cousin Dave Jeffrey had moved back to the area, and got together to jam. “I don’t know if sharing the same DNA has anything to do with it, but playing with Dave is hand-in-glove.”
Brian Nelson, Keyboards and Vocals
Back in the day, Brian played in Casper with Paul Yarber for nine years. He eventually left the Fargo Moorhead area to work as a band and choral instructor in Wyoming. He recently returned to the area, and Stella is lucky to have him. Few bands boast two lead singers, and together with Paul Yarber, Brian’s vocals are high and mighty.
Michael Lundgren, Drums
Michael Lundgren is a freelance drummer based in Fargo. He premiered as guest artist with Stella in November, 2023 and has since become a full-fledged member of the band. Michael shares percussion duties with Dave Jeffrey, depending upon schedules and seasons.
Stella auditioned at least 6 experienced drummers before stumbling upon Michael. Within the first three tunes, we knew we had found someone with extraordinary talent. Michael is a Bosphorus Cymbals and Pig Hog Cables Artist.
For more info: https://linktr.ee/michaellundgrendrums