Accordion band stays true to late founder’s tune

Before Leonard Reyman passed away in 2011, he made certain his accordion band would live on.

He formed the Iowa Accordion Club in 2002 after 55 years of playing in the 'Leonard Reyman Band.” Leadership of the club was passed on to Darlene Suchomel when he died.

Suchomel said that the band's founder was aware that continuing his legacy would require someone new to take the position as director.

'He kept saying to me, ‘you know, someone's going to have to take over this club ‘cause I'm not getting any younger,'” she said.

As his final days drew nearer, Suchomel visited in his home to say goodbye.

'I said to him, ‘Do you know who's here to see you?' and he said, ‘I certainly do, my director,' reminisced Suchomel, her voice buckling with a somber chuckle.

'He always had a sense of humor, even in his last days.”

Today, 75-year-old Suchomel leads the band of approximately 25 to 30 accordion players.

'Everybody thought it was going to die when he died,” said Russ Reyman, Leonard's son and a member of the band. 'But between Darlene (Suchomel) and I, we won't let that happen.”

The band frequents venues like the Cedar Rapids Public Library once a month and the Kosek Bandstand in Czech Village during the summer, but they primarily play at care centers throughout the area.

'It just touches a lot of people,” Reyman said. 'Reminds them of their dad or their brother … and it also reminds them of the good ol' days.”

Suchomel said care centers are usually very enthusiastic to have them play because they play old, familiar songs that generate foot tapping, singing, sometimes even dancing.

'When we play beer barrel polka and prune song … they get up and start dancing,” said Bill Serbousek, president of the Iowa Accordion Club. 'That's when you can see their faces really light up.”

Suchomel said it brings joy to the members of the Iowa Accordion Club to see how much they enjoy it, especially during the holiday season, which can be a difficult time for the elderly in the care centers because their loved ones may not be with them anymore.

'Sometimes when we're playing, I'll look out (at the audience) and I'll see somebody crying,” she said. 'But it's happy tears … because it's bringing back a memory for them … they may be remembering that they danced with their husband to that tune.”