Missouri The Band

About

Missouri

Missouri was founded in 1976 by Kansas City singer and songwriter, Ron West. As the sole writer of the songs, Ron hand-picked his band members and quickly began working in the studio, releasing their self-titled debut album in August of 1977 on Panama Records. The band consisted of: Ron West on guitar and vocals, Bill Larson on drums, Alan Cohen on bass, and Lane Turner on lead guitar. Randall Platt joined the band on keyboards just after the completion of the album. Soon after its release, Missouri made the recommended album list in Billboard magazine. The album soon landed itself in heavy rotation in the Midwest, achieving airplay success with their first single, "Movin On". Within weeks of the album’s release, they began opening shows for artists such as: Golden Earring, The Scorpions, Blackfoot, Sammy Hagar, Nazareth, Molly Hatchet, REO Speedwagon, Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, Van Halen, Jefferson Starship, and Ted Nugent… just to name a few. In 1979, Missouri released a second album on Polydor Records entitled, "Welcome Two Missouri". This album included some new material and new sounds for the band, along with a re-recorded version of "Movin on". In spite of the successful sales of the second album, Polydor Records did not renew the contract, citing the change of direction in popular music that was taking place in the late 70’s. VNR Records later released a CD collection of Missouri songs entitled, "The Best of Missouri".

Founding members Lane Turner and Bill Larson, are working together again, 4 decades after their debut album release. They were greatly saddened by the passing of their bass player, Alan Cohen, in 2003. The loss of founding member and singer songwriter Ron West in 2020, has left an empty space in the classic rock community of Kansas City and beyond. His talent and creativity lives on in the music he left behind. The members of Missouri are committed to honoring the music, talents, and legacies of these two gentlemen.

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Current Band Members

Bill Larson

Drums

Bill Larson, a founding member of Missouri, has been playing drums for over 5 decades. In 1976, he received a call from Ron West asking him to record the first Missouri album. “I am overwhelmed by the positive response of the fans at our live shows. We appreciate them for helping us to keep the music of Missouri and the creations of Ron West alive."

Lane Turner

Guitar

Founding member Lane Turner has been playing in rock bands since the age of 13. After moving to the Kansas City area in 1970, Lane played in several bands, eventually landing a gig in a band with drummer Bill Larson. In 1976 when Bill was asked to join Missouri, he asked Missouri founder, Ron West to get Lane to fill in the lead guitar slot. Lane has continued to play guitar and also works in the field of advanced audio and video production. "We are having a blast playing this music and are proud to keep it alive".

Randall Platt

Keyboards

Randall Platt started his life in music in 4th grade in Hillsdale Grade School on trumpet. With the help of a great music teacher, Mrs. Farris and support from his family, he was soon performing at school, then at 1st Baptist Church in Spring Hill, KS playing solo and duets with his sister and later playing gigs with his best friend on cornet. At age,13 he moved to Ottawa, KS when he decided he wanted to play in a band on keys, starting with a Farfisa organ, amp, speaker & reverb unit. After updating his keyboard to a Hammond C-3 & Leslie 147 more and better gigs soon followed and at 16 he was on the road with ICE & at 17, he they moved to Kansas City, MO. ICE and Ron West’s group, Chessman Square played many of the same venues and did a few events together. Bassist Alan Cohen had played a few gigs with Randall and when Missouri finished the 1st album, Ron & Alan called him to come out to listen and to see if he was interested & if he might be a good fit for the band. Things went well and rehearsals started right away for the band’s upcoming concerts, starting with Firefall in Emporia, KS. Hundreds of gigs later, Randall is back with his original band members, Lane Turner & Bill Larson alongside Dean Foltz, Frank Drummond & Rusty Crewes, 3 of the best musicians in Kansas City. Missouri is back playing songs from the 1st Panama Records album, Welcome Two Missouri recorded at Capricorn Studio for Polydor Records, plus some songs previously unreleased, but recorded at Sound Recorders in KC, MO. He is having a blast playing keyboards “LIVE” again, with his old & new Missouri brothers.

Dean "Deano" Foltz

Bass, Keys and Vocals

Dean "Deano" Foltz' musical roots can be traced back to a church in Blue Springs, Missouri where at the ago of 8 years old, he played his first piano recital. By 15, he was singing and playing bass. He is celebrating 50 years of performing.

His musical journey has given him the opportunity to play all types of music with various artists from country to heavy metal, both live and in the recording studio.

Dean proudly joined the band Missouri playing bass, keys, and vocals in 2019.