Heath Alan Pattschull – 2026 INDUCTEE

Heath Alan (Pattschull) was born in Nashua, Iowa. Heath and his wife, Beth, raised their two children in Des Moines.

Heath won a Talent Search competition when he was 8 years old. Early influences and inspirations include: family, church music, southern gospel, and Bessie Smith. His first professional work was when D. Edward Anders hired Heath as a saxophonist to record for his productions at Word Records. This is when Heath came to the attention of Marvin Spencer who hired him to play in his band as a backup singer and saxophonist with Tracie Spencer and Effie Burt. His mother, singer Bluebird Page, was his biggest influence. They played hundreds of shows together. One of the last gigs they did together was backing Kevin Burt.

For many years Heath had a duo with legendary producer, Paul Wright, who worked on staff with Paul McCartney, Dana Carvey, George Lucas, and many others. Paul and Heath were part of the Saturday Night Live traveling band that performed on the Iowa State Fair grandstand. The duo once opened up for Fishbone and were invited to play with the band.

Here is a list of the bands and artists that Heath has performed with:

  • D. Edward Anders
  • Marvin Spencer
  • Bluebird Page
  • The Flaming Snowballs
  • Common Household Pets
  • University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band
  • UNLV Bands
  • Back Alley Band
  • The Pages
  • The Blue Band (1996-2016)
  • Mother Blues with Patrick Hazell
  • Paul Wright
  • Heath Alan Band
  • Joe and Vicki Price
  • Fat Tuesday & the Greasefire Horns
  • BillyLee Janey’s Compak 3
  • Demolition Band
  • Farmer Tan Funk Band
  • Peas and Carrots with Justin Appel
  • Rock Island Rollers
  • Little Milton
  • Ray Stevens
  • Kevin Burt
  • Heath Alan & The Deep Roots
  • Ghost Town Blues Band
  • Avey Grouws Band
  • Steamer Trunk Novelty Orchestra

Heath led his own bands for 30 years and has recorded four albums under his own name: Heath Alan, Facts & Fiction, plus two released in early December of 2025: the very eclectic Light Blue Hiawatha and a blues album titled Tulsa Grass. He also contributed to two albums by Bob Dorr & the Blue Band. He has been a an active studio musician for about 40 years, and also provided the horn arrangements for David Zollo’s For Hire album.

Honors that he has earned include: 

  • Iowa Bandmasters Association Outstanding Musician
  • 1990 Holiday Bowl Conductor and Outstanding Soloist
  • 1990 All-State Musician
  • 1990 Featured Dorian Music Festival Soloist
  • 1990 Liberace Grant Recipient
  • Yamaha Musicians Hall of Fame and endorsements
  • Artist endorsement with Tenor Madness
  • 2006 Iowa Rock ’n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame w/Bob Dorr & the Blue Band
  • 2022 Iowa Rock ’n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame as a solo artist

Heath has performed at the following events:

  • Various events and fests for the Central Iowa Blues Society, South Skunk Blues Society, and Mississippi Blues Society
  • Omaha Blues Fest
  • Wichita Blues Fest
  • Midland, TX Blues Fest
  • International Blues Challenge multiple times
  • Carnegie Hall 1990
  • Chicago Blues Fest 1998
  • Kansas City Jazz Fest 2000
  • Robert Cray opener 2004 and 2010
  • Performed the National Anthem at an Arena Football League Arena Bowl
  • BB King Opener 2014
  • Stubbs, Austin, TX
  • Buddy Guys Legends
  • The Surf Ballroom
  • Sturgis Falls Days
  • My Waterloo Days
  • Des Moines Arts Festival
  • RAGBRAI
  • Des Moines Jazz Festival
  • Heath Alan’s Blues Expo Producer/Arranger for the Central Iowa Blues Society’s Winter Blues Fest

Some of the other prominent musicians that Heath has sat in with:

  • Pinetop Perkins
  • Frank Gagliardi
  • Dave Weckl
  • Louie Bellson
  • Harry Connick Jr.
  • Branford Marsalis
  • Brandon Santini
  • Matt Woods
  • Soul Searchers
  • John Nemeth

Heath says, “I’ve played just about every kind of American music there is. I think the reason I get work is that the blues is at the heart of everything I do. I got to learn from the best. Pat, Joe, Rush, Rob, Bob, Bluebird, Justin and the gang, and so many more. Still writing, recording and trying to get better every day after over 40 years of loving it.” 

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