Frank Bayuk David Sparks Chuck Lahr Steven Moon Rex Gunderson
Initially formed in 2013, Chuck Lahr & The Purdy River Band performs primarily original music, written by Lahr, in the traditional and contemporary style of Bluegrass, Americana, Folk, and Country along with classic standards, instrumentals, and gospel.
Led by Manchester, IA guitarist and lead vocalist Chuck Lahr, the band is made-up of outstanding musicians with Frank Bayuk on dobro. Frank lives in Cedar Rapids, IA and is a retired senior engineering specialist formerly from California. David Sparks plays bass guitar and sings backup harmony vocals. David is a retired professor of finance at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and lives in Waterloo, IA. Steven Moon from Cedar Falls, IA is our banjo player/harmony vocalist and is retired from UNI as the IT Director for the university. Our fiddle player is Rex Gunderson. Rex has been involved in music most of his life and is retired living in Melbourne, IA. The members of the band are diverse in their musical talents and come together with many years of experience.
Chuck Lahr & The Purdy River Band are recipients of several awards at the 2017 and 2018 Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America’s annual “Midwest” awards convention held in Jefferson City, MO. Chuck was awarded “Songwriter of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” in 2017 and again in 2018. He was awarded "Entertainer in Bluegrass Music" in 2017. Also, the Purdy River Band was awarded "2018 Bluegrass Band of the Year."
Chuck released a full-length CD of original songs titled “Midnight Run.” He’s currently working in the studio on a second CD and has been readily playing the regional live music circuit with his band. "Midnight Run" was awarded the "2015 Vintage Bluegrass CD of the Year" by the Rural Roots Music Commission.
Bob Everhart (NTCMA) described Lahr's original music as a “smooth easy satisfying style, attractive not only to bluegrass fans, but to anyone who has never heard bluegrass music before.”
This is a family-friendly band that loves an audience!
Led by Manchester, IA guitarist and lead vocalist Chuck Lahr, the band is made-up of outstanding musicians with Frank Bayuk on dobro. Frank lives in Cedar Rapids, IA and is a retired senior engineering specialist formerly from California. David Sparks plays bass guitar and sings backup harmony vocals. David is a retired professor of finance at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and lives in Waterloo, IA. Steven Moon from Cedar Falls, IA is our banjo player/harmony vocalist and is retired from UNI as the IT Director for the university. Our fiddle player is Rex Gunderson. Rex has been involved in music most of his life and is retired living in Melbourne, IA. The members of the band are diverse in their musical talents and come together with many years of experience.
Chuck Lahr & The Purdy River Band are recipients of several awards at the 2017 and 2018 Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America’s annual “Midwest” awards convention held in Jefferson City, MO. Chuck was awarded “Songwriter of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” in 2017 and again in 2018. He was awarded "Entertainer in Bluegrass Music" in 2017. Also, the Purdy River Band was awarded "2018 Bluegrass Band of the Year."
Chuck released a full-length CD of original songs titled “Midnight Run.” He’s currently working in the studio on a second CD and has been readily playing the regional live music circuit with his band. "Midnight Run" was awarded the "2015 Vintage Bluegrass CD of the Year" by the Rural Roots Music Commission.
Bob Everhart (NTCMA) described Lahr's original music as a “smooth easy satisfying style, attractive not only to bluegrass fans, but to anyone who has never heard bluegrass music before.”
This is a family-friendly band that loves an audience!
Photos courtesy of Michael Parker
