Blue Band

The Blue Band traces its origins to June 10, 1981, forging a multi-year path that built an enthusiastic following across generations and positioned the group among Iowa’s most respected and frequently booked acts. The Mississippi Valley Blues Society has described them as “The best damn, rockin’ soul dance band in the heartland.”

Formed initially under the name Bobby’s Blue Band—a lighthearted nod to blues legend Bobby Blue Bland—the ensemble comprises six core musicians whose combined skills produce an eclectic mix of blues, soul, rock, and assorted rhythmic explorations. Founding member and bandleader Bob Dorr, whose 28-year radio tenure at KUNI-FM led to his induction into the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Music Association Hall of Fame in September 2000, supplies unmistakable lead vocals, while Molly Nova contributes five-string electric violin and Jeff Petersen handles guitar. The lineup is completed by Heathcliff Pattschull on tenor and alto sax, second-generation Iowa bluesman Bryce Janey—son of BillyLee Janey—on guitar, and Turk E. Krause on drums. Guest musicians occasionally expand the sound into a larger “big band” configuration, among them internationally recognized Telecaster specialist Billy Lee Janey, acclaimed Hammond organist Sam Salomone, premier tenor saxophonist Phillip Marlow, and organist Tom Giblin.

The group maintains a schedule of 125 to 175 performances annually at live music venues, summer festivals, and private events, generally traveling within a 300-mile radius of its Eastern Iowa base that encompasses Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Chicago, while also appearing yearly in Summit County, CO, and at the Bluestock International Convention & Festival in Memphis, TN.

For more than two decades Bob Dorr has shaped the Eastern Iowa music community both as leader of the Blue Band and through his role hosting numerous programs on public radio station KUNI-FM. Although proficient on harmonica and percussion, his voice remains his foremost instrument; beyond advancing his own band he has used his popular KUNI-FM show to provide exposure for other regional acts. He began at the station in October 1972, sharing his knowledge of music history and conducting interviews with prominent rock and blues figures for over twenty years.

Another founding member, Molly Nova, concentrates on five-string electric violin, vocals, and bass guitar while preserving a personal artistic vision. Raised in Cedar Falls, IA, she began violin lessons in fourth grade, later adding piano and guitar during high school before turning to free improvisation afterward. This approach has enabled her to captivate audiences; she impressed crowds on the 1997 and 1998 Ultimate Rhythm and Blues Cruises while sitting in with Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, and Chubby Carrier, and has also jammed with Ann Rabson, Slim Jim Phantom, and Rev. Billy C. Wirtz. She continues to embrace the principle of living fully and performing each night as though it could be the last.

Founding guitarist Jeff Petersen, regarded as one of Eastern Iowa’s finest players, has performed for more than thirty years on his customized 1968 Gibson Flying V. Originally from Clinton, IA, he took up the instrument at age fourteen after hearing the Beatles and drew further inspiration from B.B. King, the Allman Brothers, and Eric Clapton. Following a decade with the Headstone Band, he helped establish the Blue Band alongside Bob Dorr and Molly Nova. He has appeared at numerous venues and opened for national acts including Freddy King and Johnny Winter, maintaining that he seeks one perfect note and values playing above crowd size.

Drummer Turk E. Krause, a Cedar Rapids-area native, joined in 1997 and expanded the band’s vocal dimension. He began playing drums in second grade on the very kit inherited from his grandfather in 1969. With more than twenty years in the industry, he has performed with the Little Red Rooster Band alongside Bob Dorr and Molly Nova and the Southern rock-oriented Headstone Band with Jeff Petersen, guided by a commitment to entertain and energize audiences.

Guitarist and vocalist Bryce Janey became a member in 1999 after growing up in the Cedar Rapids-based family band the Janeys and playing since age thirteen. His distinctive voice and raw guitar work have drawn national notice and coverage in trade publications. Since 1991 he has issued four solo CDs, with Bare Wire earning strong reviews; he strives to perform as an original rather than an imitator, favoring simplicity reminiscent of an old master.

Heathcliff Pattschull, who supplies tenor and alto sax, comes from a musically rich family background that prompted him to begin on harmonica at age eight. Playing entirely by ear, he could replicate any melody he could sing and continued this method until high school, when formal lessons became necessary. He subsequently won local and national classical competitions, receiving honors from the National Association of Jazz Educators and the Iowa Bandmasters Association. During college study of classical music he recognized his deeper affinity for rock and roll, influenced by John Lennon, Roy Orbison, and Bob Dylan; he joined a rock band in 1992 and the Blue Band in 1996, finding a setting that allows him to play with the same instinctive joy he felt as a child.

The Blue Band launched its 20th Anniversary Celebration by issuing the CD The Blue Band in November 2000.