Turk E. Krause – 2025 INDUCTEE
The long and winding roads traveled by Turk E. Krause would not have been possible if not for his Grandfather Heinie Stebritz, who tutored him and ran spotlight for his first live gig as the little drummer boy in the 2nd grade Christmas play in Algona, IA. Grandpa Heinie was leader and drummer for the Iowa Blues Dance Band for over 65 years, did a stint with Lawrence Welk in his early days, and played a gig 4 days before he passed at the age of 82. In 1965 the family moved to Cedar Rapids where Turk started his first organized band in 8th grade playing local music scenes including the Historic Riverside Roundhouse and traveling to various music halls in surrounding towns. It was during a rehearsal that he was notified of his grandfather’s passing. He eventually inherited his grandfather’s 1957 Ludwig Drum Kit, which was the deciding factor in his choosing music as a full time career.
Turk’s high school years were spent with bands ‘Shibui Ginger’ w/ Dennis “Daddy-O” McMurrin (2008 IBHOF) & ‘Perro Gordo’ where he started singing more and experimenting with writing songs. Cedar Rapids had a thriving music scene allowing young Turk to see numerous late 60s touring acts at the historic Danceland Ballroom, and participating in the local jam scene enabled him to mix it up on stage with many talented local musicians. Responding to a classified ad for a band needing a drummer in Waterloo he passed the audition and spent the next decade with ‘The Headstone Band’ w/Jeff Petersen (2015 IBHOF), playing over 250 gigs per year before breaking up December 8th, 1980. (RIP John Lennon)
His next bands based in Iowa were: ‘The Red Rooster Band’ w/ Molly Nova (2023 IBHOF) & Bob Dorr (2005 IBHOF), ‘The Hots’ w/ Billy Lee Janey (2012 IBHOF) who played regionally, including a showcase gig in New York City, and’Redwing’ with Ron DeWitte (2003 IBHOF). In 1982 Turk hooked up with a group of Cedar Rapids musicians including Dan ‘DJ’ Johnson (2016 IBHOF) andTerry Lawless (U2) and formed ‘Men Rockin’, who on the strength of their debut album Life2 got regional college radio airplay and toured successfully throughout the upper Midwest.
In 1986 he moved to Minneapolis, drumming with ‘The Space Heaters’ and the band ‘Dillman’. After a decade in Minneapolis Turk moved back to Iowa in the mid 90s. In 1997 he accepted an offer to become the drummer for The Blue Band who were at that time enjoying great success largely due to the immense and loyal following they had built over time, making this band one of the more satisfying in his career.
In 2001 he collaborated with his longtime friend and soulmate Molly Nova, recording a solo album with guest musicians including the incomparable Sam Salomone (2001 IBHOF), aimed at developing their songwriting while offering Molly an outlet to play more violin. On the strength of that newfound musical expression, and the need to grow, they made the difficult decision to leave The Blue Band and relocate to Minneapolis, a tough market loaded with bands but an area they had both lived and played in. Their debut Album Another Shade Of Blue won a 2003 Minnesota Music Award for Best Blues Recording, all songs written by Molly Nova & Turk E. Krause.
Currently with ‘Molly Nova and The Hawks’ since 2001.
Turk E. Krause was inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association’s Hall Of Fame in 2006 w/ Headstone Band and in 2007 w/The Blue Band
Turk’s musical influences are many: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Country Joe and The Fish, Eric Clapton,The Doors,Taj Mahal, Linn County, Allman Brothers, Ronnie VanZant, Big Brother & The Holding Company, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Ginger Baker, Mick Fleetwood, and if you want to experience some extraordinary soul music listen to Howard Tate and his 1967 LP Get It While You Can.
