Scotty Hartung – 2023 INDUCTEE
Scotty Hartung was born and raised in Des Moines, attending Saydel High School. Scotty attended Mankato State University and earned a BS in Business Administration.
On his first day of business classes, he was recruited to be the drummer in his professor’s friend’s band. On his second day he was introduced to the Dust Bowl Blues Band in the hallway. Since he grew up in a musical family, as his father and four siblings each played musical instruments; Scotty was able to listen to some of the Dust Bowl’s cassette tapes, and step in to begin his blues journey.
Scotty played with several bands in college and moved back to Des Moines after finishing school. He attended the local jams regularly and met his future bandmates along the way. Scotty scored a gig and as he needed a band name, he recalled thinking that Scotty and the Rib Tips was pretty damn cool. He changed the name slightly, and Scotty and the Wingtips were born in 1989!
Scotty has opened for the likes of Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, and Eddy Clearwater. He is also proud to be a founding member of the Central Iowa Blues Society (CIBS). You can still catch Scotty and his bandmates 34 years later playing around town at local jams and CIBS events.