Lazy River Band: History
Lazy River Band came together in the late 70s in the small towns of Deerfield and Petersburg Michigan. Someone had a guitar, someone had some drums, someone played the trombone, and that got it started.
The name was supposed to be "Raisin River Band", in honor of the local river, but with their laid-back attitude, someone suggested "Lazy" instead of "Raisin", and that was that.
We've thought of changing the names a few times over the years, but we can't agree on anything so as a default we continue on as The Lazy River Band.
Kim Degner is the longest-serving member: the lead singer and rhythm guitar player figures he has been in the band for about 30 years. He actually started as the drummer. He is the only band member with grandchildren, is a state champion amatuer tennis player and also has a garage full of Gus Macker trophies.
Drummer Ray Lewis and Lead Guitarist Tim Bausman both joined somewhere around 1986. Ray is a very strong drummer, who is also an automobile interior artist. Want leather seats on your tour bus? Call Ray! Tim joined the band right out of college, and has never been in any other band. Tim is also a corrections officer and therefore serves unofficially as the band security!
In 1987, keyboard player Jeff DiCenzo met LRB bass player John Seiser through work; the band had a Rhodes electric piano in the practice room and no-one to play it, so poof! Jeff was in the band! Jeff knows all those funky chords that guitarists hate: augmenteds, diminshed chords, minor seventh slash chords and the like. being in the insurance business, Jeff constantly hassles other band members to get their gear insured!!
Lazy River Band keeps surprising people with their ability to play any job: concert opening, weddings, festivals, clubs, private parties, etc. Our motto: We Want to Play Everywhere Once.
We've played on trains and on back porches and at Cabela's, for old crowds, for weddings and for high school proms. We get a big thrill showing people that that without spending any more money (usually), they can have a real, live, honest-to-goodness BAND and not a disc jockey.
We are also famous for our variety, and our ability to cover almost anything when the event demands it. At the end of a performance, the teenagers, the 30- and 40-somethings and the grandparents are ALL happy with the music.
Part of that is because we make the audience part of the entertainment, too.
Please let us know your questions, or use our site to get a price on your event. Thank you for visiting!