This is a brief history of the evolution of the FRIENDS, the comings and goings of the LCF.

Larry Campbell, the LC of LCF, moved to the KC area about 1980 and has been singing and playing guitar with friends (the F of LCF) FOREVER.   However, the friends, names, and faces have changed over the years.  Here’s a brief look at the evolution of LCF. 

Before the friends were called LCF they were the “Singing Vitagliano Brothers and their Flying June Bug Circus” which included Larry Campbell, Thurman & Vangie Gardner, and Jon & Denise Orjala.  In 1983, R. Lorraine Taylor (Shaver) moved to the KC area and within a year or so, she was invited to become one of the “brothers”.   Eventually, the name changed to “Brighter Day”.  Much more acceptable in the Bible Belt!!   

Larry along with Lorraine, gathered more friends – Becky Privett and Tim James.  The foursome continued to sing in churches, prisons, rescue missions, etc.  Eventually, it was Larry and Lorraine as a twosome most of the time, until a young seminarian named Broe Davis came to town.  The threesome started getting more gigs on a regular basis.  It was around this time that people began referring to the group as Larry Campbell and Company OR Larry Campbell & Friends.  Invited to do music for a legitimate gig, the Kansas City District Laymen’s Conference, more than the threesome wanted to tackle alone, new friends Diane “Cheeko” Cheek, Daren “Derb” Stimpert, and Dee Thulin sang with then. 

In the summer of 1995 LCF had the opportunity to sing at Nazarene Youth Congress in Phoenix, AZ.  Yeah, an even bigger gig which meant adding newest friend Zack Kauffman (long-hair awesome bass player!) and Christy (James) Kuzmich (long haired violinist).  Then a short lived “first” – a cello played, Ashley Smith joined the friends.  Didn’t last long, but it was fun while it lasted. 

Once again there was moving away and change -- Diane moved back to Ohio and Daren then moved to California.  Missy (Apple) Knotts stepped on board; but shortly thereafter, she moved to Indianapolis.   A new drummer came on the scene -- Stan Adell; and with the new drummer came a bass player , also named Larry, who moved on rather quickly and in stepped Gary Dennington on bass followed by Scott Bozworth on drums.  After the annual KCFC concert in 1998 LCF came to somewhat of a screeching halt – maybe a more of a pause, or a sabbatical if you will. 

Then in 1999, the friends came back -- back with a vengeance.  LCF made the acquaintance of Bryan Vignery, a new drummer, and Dennis Norton, lead guitarist as new friends.  Then, the natural for the new bass player stepped in – Dr. Pat Bryant.  And sound man, Jeff “J-Dawg” McBee came on board in a big way. 

Dennis became worship leader at  KC First Church, so Don Miller stepped in on lead guitar.  Another drummer also named Brian, joined LCF on occasion.  Moving on most recently, Don is taking a sabbatical, and LCF has stolen Scott Prowell, a banjo-mando-dobro-guitar-and-any-other-stringed-instrument-player from local Blue Grass band, Spontaneous Combustion.