R.I.P. Lanny Bryant, 1952-2022
Lanny Bryant, longtime lead singer for the classic rock band Dumbfounded, passed away Nov. 30, 2022 at the age of 70.
Lanny was much more than a member of a classic rock band. He was a respected public servant who served Greenfield, Ohio for more than 25 years including four years as mayor, numerous terms as a member of Greenfield City Council, and as a community leader and volunteer. Lanny enjoyed a successful career in the printing and publishing business and was employed by Cummings Printing of New Hampshire at the time of his passing.
Lanny was a Christian who put God and family his top priorities, but music was also a lifelong passion. He spent many years singing gospel music and especially loved southern gospel. He performed in many different groups, most notably the Singing Disciples.
In the early 2000s Lanny was enlisted as a vocalist for the classic rock and pop group Dumbfounded and lent his distinctive vibrato to the re-creation of the hits he and his bandmates grew up with in the 1960s and ‘70s.
“Lanny just loved to sing and always kept a positive attitude,” said longtime friend, former co-worker and lead guitarist Ron Coffey. “We got to be close friends while working at Greenfield Printing & Publishing back in the 1980s, and at lunch breaks we talked about ideas to help the community, plans for starting businesses, and a host of other subjects. We sometimes joked about all the money we lost because we didn’t follow through on some of our business schemes,” Coffey laughed. “But Lanny did a lot of good for the community as a city council member and during his term as mayor in the early 2000s. He also put together a musical show to help raise money for the school district to purchase a new sound system. He helped the Rotary Club book entertainment for the community festival. And he was quite active in his church. Lanny’s faith came through in everything he did.”
Coffey had the task of sharing the news of Lanny’s passing to his bandmates, George Smith, Mark Fisher, Mark Lawson and Ken Gould. “We were all in a state of shock, as most of us had just talked or texted with him and we planned to get together at a band Christmas party over the weekend.”
Lanny’s bandmates echoed his praises, calling him an all-around positive force who loved singing in Dumbfounded and quickly welcomed the newer members into the band. “I loved Lanny,” said bassist Mark Lawson, who joined the band in 2021. “He was always up for making music and loved seeing the audience smiling and singing along.”
“Lanny and I just had a very pleasant phone conversation yesterday (Nov. 30),” said new drummer Ken Gould. “He wanted me to download some music tracks onto his tablet and talking about our upcoming Christmas party. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Our last gig with Lanny was one of the most fun performances we have had,” Coffey said. “It was a Halloween party at the Champions Grill in Washington C.H. and Lanny and Mark Fisher came in dressed as the Blues Brothers. They danced around like John Belushi and Dan Akroyd and got the crowd fired up for a good time. It seemed that everyone was happy that night. There were lots of great costumes and the band was really cooking. It was a magical evening!”
Lanny’s fellow “Blues Brother,” Mark Fisher, joined the band after singing “Born to be Wild” at a block party years ago, and the two singers had a close relationship. “Lanny was like a brother. I can’t believe he’s gone. Life really is fragile – spend time with your loved ones,” he advised.
George Smith, who grew up in Greenfield and has known Lanny for a long time, also expressed shock and sadness at the loss. “Lanny was such a good guy, always smiling and easy to work with. He kept up a positive attitude and loved making music with us. His passing is a great loss for his family, his many friends, and the band.”
"Lanny was a man of faith and we are confident he is in a better place," Coffey said. "But his passing leaves a void and we pray for comfort for his wife Shirley and the family. He loved them dearly and had been so happy these past few years. We hope the outpouring of love and the stories shared in coming days will help ease the pain of separation."
Lanny’s funeral will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at Good Shepherd Church in Greenfield. Burial will follow in the Greenfield Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3:00 -7:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the church.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Greenfield Area Christian Center, New Directions, or The Exchange in Blanchester.
The Murray-Fettro Funeral Home in Greenfield is serving the family.
Lanny’s obituary can be found at the following link:
https://www.murrayfettro.com/obituary/lanny-bryant?fh_id=13526
Lanny was much more than a member of a classic rock band. He was a respected public servant who served Greenfield, Ohio for more than 25 years including four years as mayor, numerous terms as a member of Greenfield City Council, and as a community leader and volunteer. Lanny enjoyed a successful career in the printing and publishing business and was employed by Cummings Printing of New Hampshire at the time of his passing.
Lanny was a Christian who put God and family his top priorities, but music was also a lifelong passion. He spent many years singing gospel music and especially loved southern gospel. He performed in many different groups, most notably the Singing Disciples.
In the early 2000s Lanny was enlisted as a vocalist for the classic rock and pop group Dumbfounded and lent his distinctive vibrato to the re-creation of the hits he and his bandmates grew up with in the 1960s and ‘70s.
“Lanny just loved to sing and always kept a positive attitude,” said longtime friend, former co-worker and lead guitarist Ron Coffey. “We got to be close friends while working at Greenfield Printing & Publishing back in the 1980s, and at lunch breaks we talked about ideas to help the community, plans for starting businesses, and a host of other subjects. We sometimes joked about all the money we lost because we didn’t follow through on some of our business schemes,” Coffey laughed. “But Lanny did a lot of good for the community as a city council member and during his term as mayor in the early 2000s. He also put together a musical show to help raise money for the school district to purchase a new sound system. He helped the Rotary Club book entertainment for the community festival. And he was quite active in his church. Lanny’s faith came through in everything he did.”
Coffey had the task of sharing the news of Lanny’s passing to his bandmates, George Smith, Mark Fisher, Mark Lawson and Ken Gould. “We were all in a state of shock, as most of us had just talked or texted with him and we planned to get together at a band Christmas party over the weekend.”
Lanny’s bandmates echoed his praises, calling him an all-around positive force who loved singing in Dumbfounded and quickly welcomed the newer members into the band. “I loved Lanny,” said bassist Mark Lawson, who joined the band in 2021. “He was always up for making music and loved seeing the audience smiling and singing along.”
“Lanny and I just had a very pleasant phone conversation yesterday (Nov. 30),” said new drummer Ken Gould. “He wanted me to download some music tracks onto his tablet and talking about our upcoming Christmas party. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Our last gig with Lanny was one of the most fun performances we have had,” Coffey said. “It was a Halloween party at the Champions Grill in Washington C.H. and Lanny and Mark Fisher came in dressed as the Blues Brothers. They danced around like John Belushi and Dan Akroyd and got the crowd fired up for a good time. It seemed that everyone was happy that night. There were lots of great costumes and the band was really cooking. It was a magical evening!”
Lanny’s fellow “Blues Brother,” Mark Fisher, joined the band after singing “Born to be Wild” at a block party years ago, and the two singers had a close relationship. “Lanny was like a brother. I can’t believe he’s gone. Life really is fragile – spend time with your loved ones,” he advised.
George Smith, who grew up in Greenfield and has known Lanny for a long time, also expressed shock and sadness at the loss. “Lanny was such a good guy, always smiling and easy to work with. He kept up a positive attitude and loved making music with us. His passing is a great loss for his family, his many friends, and the band.”
"Lanny was a man of faith and we are confident he is in a better place," Coffey said. "But his passing leaves a void and we pray for comfort for his wife Shirley and the family. He loved them dearly and had been so happy these past few years. We hope the outpouring of love and the stories shared in coming days will help ease the pain of separation."
Lanny’s funeral will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at Good Shepherd Church in Greenfield. Burial will follow in the Greenfield Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3:00 -7:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the church.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Greenfield Area Christian Center, New Directions, or The Exchange in Blanchester.
The Murray-Fettro Funeral Home in Greenfield is serving the family.
Lanny’s obituary can be found at the following link:
https://www.murrayfettro.com/obituary/lanny-bryant?fh_id=13526
DUMBFOUNDED:
Classic Rock, Garage Style!
The members of Dumbfounded grew up in a time when all sorts of music came over the airwaves via the AM stations that provided entertainment. Because of the exposure to a wide variety of music, a Dumbfounded performance reflects many facets of rock and roll, with some country, rhythm and blues and other genres mixed in. Band members just call it “Classic Rock, Garage Style,” and they play whatever they enjoy, which amounts to a nice variety of their generation’s music.
The band enjoys making music and having fun. Baby Boomers and folks of all ages seem to enjoy the effort and the feelings that the music evokes.
Dumbfounded is sought after for parties, class reunions and most any type of gathering where classic rock & roll from the 1960s and ‘70s is appreciated.
For more information, contact George Smith at 740-572-2260 or email him at biggstox@yahoo.com.
The band enjoys making music and having fun. Baby Boomers and folks of all ages seem to enjoy the effort and the feelings that the music evokes.
Dumbfounded is sought after for parties, class reunions and most any type of gathering where classic rock & roll from the 1960s and ‘70s is appreciated.
For more information, contact George Smith at 740-572-2260 or email him at biggstox@yahoo.com.
G i G S . . .- 2023 - Friday, March 3: Legionnaires, join Dumbfounded as we play at a new venue for us -- the Kettering American Legion Post #598. Music from 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 14: Dumbfounded returns to the Kettering American Legion Post #598. Again, music 7-10 p.m. Saturday, June 10: Benefit to battle Alzheimer's Disease in downtown Washington C.H. Mark your calendars! MORE INFO FOR BOOKING SONGS YOU MIGHT HEAR
AT A DUMBFOUNDED SHOW! Ain’t Too Proud to Beg American Band As Tears Go By Back in the U.S.S.R. Black Magic Woman Boot Scootin’ Boogie Born to be Wild Bring it on Home to Me Brown Eyed Girl China Grove Dance to the Music Do Wah Diddy Eight Days A Week Evil Ways Fortunate Son Gimme Three Steps Gloria Good Lovin' Hanky Panky Hang On Sloopy Have You Ever Seen the Rain Hold On, I’m Comin’ Honky Tonk Women I Feel Good I Got a Line on You I Saw Her Standing There I Want to Hold Your Hand I’m a Believer Jealous Again Joy to the World Kind of a Drag Knock on Wood Lights Listen to the Music Little Black Egg Long Time Lovin’ You Long Train Runnin’ Louie Louie Margaritaville Midnight Confessions Midnight Hour Money Mustang Sally My Girl No Matter What Old Time Rock & Roll Oye Como Va People Like You Proud Mary Runaway Smoke on the Water Stealin’ Take it Easy Takin’ Care of Business To Love Somebody The Breakup Song The Breeze Then You can Tell Me Goodbye Travelin' Man Try a Little Tenderness Two Tickets to Paradise Unchained Melody Vehicle What I Like About You Whiter Shade of Pale Wonderful Tonight |
Rock ruminations from... Dumbfounded
The Harvest Ball was everything they told us, and more...
Dumbfounded had a great time at the Oct. 8, 2022 Harvest Ball at an undisclosed location near Caesar Creek Lake. Everyone was in the mood to dance, and they knew the words to all the songs! A big thanks to Dave for the invitation to perform at his historic and beautiful farm! Music on Main Street was fun!
The view from the Fayette County Courthouse steps is pretty sweet on a beautiful August evening, as the members of Dumbfounded found out Aug. 12 when performing for Music on Main Street. A nice group of classic rock lovers brought their lawn chairs and gathered on the courthouse lawn as well as the sidewalk close to the band to enjoy some golden hits from the sixties and seventies. A few in the crowd came up to help sing, some danced on the sidewalk others just sat back to enjoy the perfect weather and the classic rock and pop played a garage band that loves to make music. Thanks to everyone who came out. As the summer season winds down, the weather can be a factor at outdoor gigs, but we are looking into some indoor venues so we can keep rocking through the fall and winter! We will keep you posted. Proud to be part of Pelotonia event!
Once again Dumbfounded provided music for the Fayette County Pelotonia event that took place July 30 at Streetside 62. Dumbfounded's Mark Fisher has been a driving force in this event for a long time now, and it's amazing how much money has been raised to fight the scourge of cancer. The activities included a silent auction of excellent donated items, and there was also a live auction for some great items like vacation destinations, Bengals and Buckeyes football tickets and a host of other sought after items. And many riders from Fayette County raised money by finding sponsors for bike rides of varying lengths. On Aug. 24 the Fayette County Pelotonia Riders posted on social media that the 2022 Pelotonia event raised $56,423 for cancer research and sent out thanks to everyone in this amazing community who made the event such a great success. The members of Dumbfounded tip their collective hats to the many people who worked so hard getting donations, selling tickets, setting up tables and chairs, giving personal testimonies about their own battles with cancer, and to everyone who attended and spent their money for this great cause. WAY TO GO FAYETTE COUNTY! A Dumbfounded double feature!
June 18, 2022 was an interesting day for the members of Dumbfounded. After going more than six months since our last gig, we found not one, but TWO gigs on our calendar. New drummer Ken Gould must have thought we had lost our minds, and the rest of us weren't so sure either. Fortunately everything worked out. The weather was outstanding for our first gig, a benefit to help fight Alzheimer's disease. We set up on the steps to the Fayette County courthouse and enjoyed some coffee from Vinyl Coffee while singer/guitarist Micah Mootispaw opened the show. Both Micah and Vinyl Coffee are worth checking out. Micah is a friend from Greenfield now living in Washington C.H. and involved in the Christian community there. Vinyl Coffee gets its name from the vinyl records that play in the coffee shop as well as the excellent java that is served. When our turn came to play, we experienced lots of joy from the music, the friends who came to listen, and the fact that we were back in performance mode after the winter layoff. New drummer Ken Gould played great and sounded like he has been in the band for years. Vocalists Lanny Bryant and Mark Fisher were in great form, and Mark's father, Eddie Fisher, stopped by to listen and cheer us on. George Smith showcased his mastery of the keyboards and the harmonica. Guitarist Ron Coffey's grandchildren were on hand dancing to the music, wearing face paint and just enjoying life to the max. Bassist Mark Lawson supplied the sonic foundation as well as a psychedelic tie died backdrop. Good times! Soon after the first gig ended, Dumbfounded did a quick teardown and headed to One More Sports Bar & Grill on the edge of town. This has been a favorite venue for the band over the years, and we were honored to get to play there again before the property is repurposed, as it has been sold and won't be a sports bar any longer. Several folks who enjoyed the band downtown came out to the sports bar to hear some different material and some Dumbfounded "classics." The pizza was great, the beer was cold and the reception was warm. After the gig, band members exchanged lots of warm, fuzzy texts indicating that some positive chemistry happens when we bring "Classic Rock, Garage Style" to the people. Long live classic rock, and long live Dumbfounded! Check the calendar in the left column for out latest gigs. We hope to see you soon! 
Ken Gould joins Dumbfounded
Dumbfounded is happy to announce that Ken Gould has accepted an offer to become drummer for the popular classic rock band. Ken replaces Randy Adams, who decided to step away from the band due to the demands of his work schedule. Ken’s first official gigs with Dumbfounded took place Saturday, June 18 when the band played a pair of Washington C.H. gigs, the first a benefit to fight Alzheimer’s disease, followed by a show at One More Sports Bar, just outside of WCH. “Ken shares a great love of music with his fellow band members, and we look forward to playing ‘Classic Rock, Garage Style’ with him as Dumbfounded continues a musical journey that began more than 20 years ago,” said guitarist Ron Coffey. “We wish only good things for Randy Adams, who has served as the band’s drummer during two tours of duty. He is a talented musician and we thank him for helping us bring classic rock to the people.” And your Dumbfounded lineup is... It seems that Dumbfounded has a revised lineup almost every year, as members come and go for various reasons. Some retire and move away, some move on to playing other kinds of music, and some have spontaneously combusted (allegedly). Nevertheless, the classic rock band known as Dumbfounded has persevered and still carries the torch for music from the 1960s and '70s, often made in garages by garage bands. In case you’re keeping score, Dumbfounded now consists of: Lanny Bryant, vocals Mark Fisher, vocals George Smith, keyboards and harmonica Ken Gould, drums Mark Lawson, bass Ron Coffey, guitar |