Meet The Band

LEE SIMS

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ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR 2001 IN COLORADO

COLORADO COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR 2003

3 TIME GOLDEN MUSIC AWARD WINNER 2001 IN NASHVILLE

BERT SIMS

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COLORADO COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 2003

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CD REVIEWS PLAYLIST AND COMMENTS

Meet The Band

Lee Sims began singing at five years old, listening to his mom & dad’s phonograph and singing along to the songs of Johnny Cash, Jim Reaves, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hank Thompson, Johnny Horton and anyone else he could find in his mom & dads collection. his parents thought that he had a talent to sing and encouraged him to sing along and by eight his dad would take him to local musicians jam sessions so he could get practice singing in live situations.
       There was always a guitar around the house and at age twelve he started with music lessons on a lap steel, from that he went on to play guitar and start his own band. His first gig was a jr. high talent show and within two weeks he played his first job for money and has continued on that path to the present day.
       Lee has been a studio singer for years singing commercial jingles and demo’s for many a song writer. This experience eventually took him to Tennessee & the Nashville network, where he was a finalist on you can be a star.
         Lee’s credits also include performing with such country stars as Waylon Jennings, Kenny O”Dell, Tommy Overstreet, Tanya Tucker, Buck Owens, George Strait and the list goes on and on.
         Lee has recorded numerous songs through out his years in the music business, but he feels this latest collection of songs is the best yet and he hopes you agree.

Bert Sims began playing drums at twelve years old, by the time he was fourteen he was in his first band and began playing some of the local night clubs in the Denver area. Eventually he became interested in the bass guitar and by the time he was sixteen he had made the switch to bass and was fronting his own band. The day finally came he and Lee had the opportunity to combine their talents and form the Platte River Band.
Bert was born in San Francisco and due to the fact his father was in the military, the family got to see many parts of California and the desert southwest before settling in Colorado. Bert now calls Lakewood Colorado home and when he has free time he enjoys fishing, bowling, and golf.
Bert also has talent in the song writing area and penned one of the songs on the Back Trackin' CD called Fishin' (One of his favorite pastimes.) Bert is currently working on some new tunes for the next project so stay tuned!

       Ron Cook has been with the Platte River Band for a number of years. Actually since it's inception in 1973. Prior to that, he worked with Lee as a drummer, starting in about 1965. During this course of time he has taken time out to play many different styles of music, from Rock to Show to Country. Also, he has played a number of various instruments during that period.
            Ron is fluent on steel guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals-lead and harmony. He has spent countless hours in the studio, recording everything from soundtracks to commercials. He has also done some work in front of the camera, with bit parts in several videos and T.V. commercials.
           Songwriting is also a part of the mix, in that you can find at least one of his songs on each of the last three Platte River Band albums, dating back to 1980. He refers to himself as a flavorist, in that he supplies the fills and expressions that round out a musical piece.
           "Just play the song as an entire work, not a showpiece for any one concern."

Larry was born in Gunnison Colorado 1953, his family moved to Englewood Colorado where he actually grew up, and started playing drums in the fourth grade at the young age of nine. He devoted many hours to practice, and played as many public performances as he possibly could. His dedication finally paid off when in 1971 he was became a member of the ALL STATE BAND and received a music scholarship to The University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

Professionally, Larry has played for Twenty-Nine years with several different bands such as, Prairie Fire, Leo Everette and Big Sky, Dakota Ridge, Tresspasser, and is currently the newest member of Denver’s longest established band, Lee Sims and the Platte River Band.

During the years Larry has been an instructor of drums and he is currently the Drum Manager at Guitar Center on South Colorado Boulevard.

Larry Ruggera, Welcome to the Platte River Band!

Dan Slovak was born in Denver,CO and has been playing professionally for 32 years. Coming from a musical family with many country roots, Dan has contributed to many good bands around the Denver area. He has toured in 23 states throughout the U.S. Dan plays lead and rhythm guitar,sings,and plays bass guitar as a second instrument.

Carl Klatts

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